IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


r/,^  A^r4^ 


% 


1.0 


I.I 


150     ■^~       ■■■ 

■tt  1^    |2.2 

•UUt. 

141 


IL25  III  1.4 


I 


1.6 


-»• 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


as  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIMTIR.N.Y.  MSM 

(716)  •73-4S03 


jT^ 

^A^ 

^.4^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductions  historiquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  -Tiages  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


□ 


D 


D 


D 


Q 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pelliculAe 


j      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relit  avec  d'autres  documents 


r~7]    Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 


along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 

distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouttes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  :exte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  it6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires; 


L'Instltut  a  microfilmi  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  iti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

n    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagtes 


v/ 


y 


n 


Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurtes  et/ou  pelliculdes 


T~7l    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 


Pages  d6ccsi;r6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


[      I    Pages  detached/ 
r~7|    Showthrough/ 


Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualiti  inigale  de  I'impression 


I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 


Comprend  du  materiel  supplimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponibie 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieiiement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  filmtea  A  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

./ 

12X 


16X 


20X 


MX 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public    . 
Archives  of  Canada 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  ur  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'exemplaire  filmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

La  bibliothdque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 

Las  images  suivantes  ont  At6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
da  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
pepier  est  imprimAe  sent  filmfo  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  -^  signifie  "A  SCIVRE",  le 
symbols  y  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  11  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


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2 

3 

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2 

3 

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5 

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CHAPIN'S  REVlM^ 


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ARMSTRONG'S  NOTICES 


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CHAPiN'S  REVIEW 


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ARMSTRONG'S  NOTICES 


cr  Tilt 


II 


WAR  OF   1812 


BLACK  ROCK : 

n.   r.   ADA  MS,   PRINTKR — ADVOIA'IB  oyrXCF 


1836. 


TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


I  am  not  a  book-maker  either  by  profession  or  practice  :  Nor 
have  I  at  the  late  stage  of  life  at  which  1  have  arrived,  either  dispo- 
sition or  leisure,  to  make  any  more  display  than  is  necessary  in  obe- 
dience to  the  first  impulse  of  nature — self-defence. 

The  recent  appearance  of  a  book  entitled  "Notices  of  the  War 
of  1812,"  by  John  Armstrong,  in  which  the  writer  attempts  to 
place  me  in  a  base,  ridiculous,  and  even  criminal  point  of  view,  is 
the  sole  occasion  of  calling  the  attention  of  the  public  to  a  subject 
which  common  sense  might  have  given  General  Armstrong  warning 
to  shun.  If  truth  and  justice  are  not  important — if  malevolence,  false- 
hood, and  ignorance  with  regard  to  some  of  the  most  common,  but 
material  facts,  are  to  be  the  measure  of  merit,  then  are  these  'notices' 
to  be  placed  in  the  very  uppermost  niche  in  the  Temple  of  Fame. 

It  is  time  that  our  wonderful  "Secretary  stood  alone," — It  is  time 
that  he  had  long  felt  himself  neglected  and  forgotten,  when  the  re- 
source appears  to  have  occurred  to  him,  of  rakmg  from  oblivion,  all 
he  could  find  of  spleen  and  garrulity  in  the  memory  of  the  late 
Col.  Boerstler;  behind  whoso  shade  he  seeks  to  entrench  himself. 
This  skulking,  serpentine  course  shall  not  answer  his  purpose.  It 
is  unworthy  of  a  soldier,  and  proves  the  historian  faithless.  Of  the 
deeds  of  the  "Secretary"  the  country  had  ample  proof  during  the 
war.  In  two  wars  indeed  he  has  been  conspicuous.  Of  the  cha- 
racter of  his  labors,  the  public  had  long  been  satisfied  :  There  re- 
mained no  doubt  but  that  "he  left  his  country  for  his  country's 


i>i 


h 


II 


iV 


PREFACK. 


goou. 


Sorry  inilcetl  must  have  been  his  condition,    when,    for 
■want  of  facts,  he  was  driven  to  found  In's  "notices"  on  fiction;  and 
that  too  of  a  dangorous  nature — pestilent  to  those  he  assails  destruc- 
tive only  to  himself.     His  c^'Iebrity  originated  in  his  being  reputed  to 
bo  the  author  of  the  Newburgli  Letters  so  calk.'d,  and  of  a  Review 
of  Wilkinson's  Memoirs.     The  first  of  tlic?o  productions  in  point  of 
stylo,  would  do  credit  to  a  far  better  scholar  than  he  is.     Both  the 
spirit  and  inalter  of  it  would  have  been  cherished  to  maturitv,  no 
where,  but  in  a  mind  reckless  of  every  interest  but  its  own — and  of 
tlr\t  grossly  ignorant.     The  last  mentioned  production  entitles  the 
writer  to  the  palm  of  scurrility.     To  obtain  this  palm,  there  was  no 
necessity  for  this  production,     lie  might  have  rested  his  claim  upon 
tlio  abuse  he  has  endeavored  to  throw  upon  some  of  the  best  men, 
and  best  established  characters  of  this  nation.     Was  it  not  reasona- 
ble to  hope  tl;at  age  would  soften  the  feelings  and  subdue  the  temper 
which  had  been  excited  by  disappointed  ambition?     What  excuse 
ran  he  have  for  casting  his  venom  on  those  who  never  did,  nor 
wished  him  harm?  some  of  whom,  on  the  contrary,  stood  forth  in 
the  common  defence,  and  breasted  the  storm  of  battle  -where  he 
never  dared  to  venture  his    head.     If  those   whom    ho    foolishly 
thinks  he  can  make  the  victims  of  his  malice,  were  in  truth  the  poor, 
blundering,   half  mad,   half  foolish  creatures  he  would   represent 
thorn,  still  he  should  remember  that  "they  who  live  in  glass  liouses 
should  never  begin  throwing  of  stones."     Frailty!  Is  thy  name  John 
Armstrong?     Indeed  and  indeed  when  this  man  is  stripped  of  his 
fictitious  consequence,   he   is  quite  a  small  man — there  is  hardly 
enough  left  of  him  for  an  antagonist. 

As  I  have-not  sought  this  discussion,  1  will  not  shun  it.  I  will 
not  submit  passively  to  such  charges  as  are  contained  in  the  "Notices" 
without  repelling  them.  But  I  will  attend  to  whatever  communica- 
tion may  be  made  to  me  as  a  gentleman.  But  the  Secretary  and 
his  friends  ]\IcClurc  and  Coerstler  will  none  of  them  bo  run  away 
from,  but  their  efforts  may  prove  too  much  for  themselves — they 
may,  for  aught  I  can  assure  them,  meet  the  fate  of  the  little  insect 
that  dies  in  shooting  its  sting.  Whatever  may  be  the  consequence 
to  any  party,  truth  must  be  told.  Whoever  may  be  the  calumniator, 
he  must  sooner  or  later  be  exhibited  in  a  just  light,  to  the  public. 


i 


;? 


it  I 


piiEFAcr:. 


Error  and  pnrty  interest  ever  ecck  Liy-U'Ry.-;  nud  taiiiu  tin;  liglii: 
while  truth  will  have  light,  and  even  though,  "iilic  tiic  mangle. 1 
hody  of  0.siris,  it  should  be  hewn  into  a  thousand  {licces,  and  sea.- 
torcd  to  the  four  winds  ;  it.  shall  bo  gathered  limb  1)  linih,  r.r.J 
moulded  with  every  joint  and  monibcr,  into  unlading  beauty.'' 

A.S  I  have  acknowledged  myself  ignorant  of  tr:c  art  of  louk- 
raaking,  that,  I  hope  v/ill  bo  deemed  a  sunicionl  apology  for  a);y  d<> 
fect  in  style  or  arrangonicnt  whieh  may  appear  in  this  defence, 
against  the  *'noticos"  which  were  made  without  foundation  or  e\- 
cusc,  and  I  trust  I  may  rely  on  the  candor  of  the  public,  for  a  fnir 
hearing.  CYRENIUS  CHAPIN. 

Buffalo,  July,  1836. 


R  E  V  1  E  W 


At  till'  breaking  out  of  the  last  war,  I  was  rosidiiig  with  my 
tumily  at  BiinUlo.  1  wa^  in  gooJ  business,  and  we  were  in  pros- 
perous circumstances.  I  volunteered  to  fight  and  joined  the  army, 
while  my  family  became  refugees.  We  all  sulF.M'ed  pretty  severely. 
I  made  every  exertion  in  my  ])Ower  to  encourage  others,  and  very 
often,  as  is  known  to  numbers  yet  living,  and  who  did  the  same, 
hazarded  my  life,  and  in  several  instances  came  near  losing  it;  hav- 
ing been  several  times,  and  twice  severely,  wounded.  I  have  no 
pretensions  to  extraordinary  merit  ;  but  I  honestly  thought,  that 
those  who  joined  the  army,  in  its  then  condition,  as  volunteers,  de- 
served well  of  their  country,  myself  among  the  rest.  It  will  be  no 
matter  of  wonder  then,  that  my  indignation  should  bo  roused,  by 
reading,  above  twenty  years  afterwards,  in  a  book  written  by  the 
man  who  was  Secretary  at  war  of  the  United  States,  during  that 
War,  the  following  passages,  literally  copied  tVoni  that  book,  which 
I  cannot  well  refrain  t'rom  saying,  contain  some  truth,  some  gross 
blunders,  and  many  falsehoods. 

Since  I  sliall  here  insert  the  sentence  that  first  roused  me,  I  will 
insert  here  also,  uU  I  intend  to  extract  from  Armstrong's  woik. 


EXTRACTS. 
Narrative  of  the  Exitcdition  from  Fort  George  to  the  ftcavcr  Dams, 

Upper  Canada. 

"On  Jiinp  2.'?il,  18in,  sni  dmnvt  Major  riitipiii  I'allpd  at  tiio  tent  of  Iiiouteiiant- 
Colonel  Hirrdtler,  on  tlie  pluiim  of  Newark;  talki'd  largely  ntioiit  having  scoured 
nil  the  country  willi  liin  i'orty  follnwcrs;  that  lio  liad  l)ecn  to  the  JU'avcr  Uanm; 
that  Iho  oniMiiy  had  t'orlifnul  Decoo's  slonc  hniiRo;  tliat  ihcro  were  one  roinpany 
of  rcgi'-'.rs,  and  from  wixty  to  out;  liuii(lr<'d  liidianH  at  lliut  post.  Tliat  if  this 
utrongliohl  was  dcslroyt'd,  the  onciny  coidd  no  lonijer  show  hinisi'lf  in  tiiiH 
quarter;  that  five  hundred  men  with  a  couple  of  field-pieces  could  eftert  this, 
&c.  &c. 

"Lieutenant-Colonel  B<rrstler  knowing  thin  man  to  he  a  vain  hoastinc  liar, 
and  BUBpectinjj  his  fidelity,  from  various  eircumntances,  nnionpst  which  wan 
that  of  having  joined  a  committee  to  remonstrate  ngainRl  the  war,  and  tliat  of 
coming  forward  as  snokesmnn,  in  favor  of  a  man  charged  by  many  of  liis  neigh- 
bors with  giving  intelligence  to  tlie  enemy— he  was  heard  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Bfflmtler  with  indifference,  and  dismissed  widi  coolness,     A  messenirer  now  ar. 


CHAPIN  8    ilKVIEW, 


rived  to  inform   '  irtutenaut-Coloiiel  Boirstler  tli;it  General  Boyd  desired  to  see 
him  at   his  r,'         rn.     When  arrived,  he  was  asked,  'have  you  spen  Major 
Chapin?' 
"  'Yes,  sir.' 

"  'Has  he  mentioned  any  thing  of  an  expedition?'  He  talked  (as  above  re- 
lated.) 

"  'It  is  intended  to  send  five  hundred  men  and  two  field-pieces  to  capture  or 
dislodge  the  enemy,  and  batter  down  Decoo's  house;  and  you  are  to  have  the 
command.' 

"  'Very  well,  sir;  when  do  I  marrhl' 

"  'Tliis  evening;  you  will  call  at  the  Adjutant-General's  office  for  your  or- 
ders.' 

"He  called,  and  the  Adjutant-General  having  commenced  to  exidiiin  the  ob- 
ject of  the  expedition,  he  was  intorriipted  with  'Vou  are  a  soldier,  ;.nd  will  ex- 
cuse me  when  I  demand  my  orders  hi  writing.' 
"  'Certainly,  sir.' 

"They  were  written,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bocr.stler  marched,  about  dark, 
with  fivi!  hundred  men,  consisting  of  ("uptain  McDowell's  company  of  light  ar- 
tillery, with  a  twelve  and  six  pounder,  twenty  dragoons  under  Cornet  Ilurd, 
Major  Chapin's  thirty-eight  or  forty  mounted  militia,  and  the  rest  composed  of 
infantry  of  the  fourteenth,  sixth,  and  twenty-third  regiments.  The  riilemen 
ordered  to  join  this  expedition,  (and  which  were  all-important,)  were,  by  Lieut. 
Colonel  Milton,  the  commander  of  the  second  Brigade,  contrary  to  all  rule,  placed 
on  guard,  and  could  not  be  relieved. 

"The  detachment  arrived  at  Quecnston  about  eleven  o'clock  P.  M.,  in  great 
silence.  I'atrols  and  pickets  were  immcdiati'Iy  sent  out  to  pnweiit  citizens  troni 
escaping  to  give  intelligence;  no  candlis  were  siitfered  to  be  lighted,  and  ofiicers 
and  men  laid  down  on  their  arms,  Aller  ilay-break,  the  detaeliiiient  proceeded, 
and  near  St.  David's  an  Indian  srout  was  killfd  by  a  Hanker,  while  another 
made  his  escape.  At  St.  David's  the  coniniaiider  discovered  that  Maj.  Chapin's 
knowledge  of  the  roads  was  not  to  be  relied  on.  He  accordingly  interrogated 
various  inhabitants,  and  |)rocecd('d  several  miles,  when  arriving  at  a  cross-road, 
ho  demanded  of  some  of  Major  Chapin's  men  where  that  road  led  to'(  They  re- 
plied, they  did  not  know.  'How,  not  know!  were  you  not  liere  two  days  ago?' 
'No,  sir;  not  within  several  miles  as  far.' 

"The  commander  now  perceived  that  the  General  had  been  inveigled  to  risk 
this  detachment  on  doubtful  intelligence. 

"Two  British  otficers  were  discovered  at  some  distance  reconftoitering,  and 
presently  bugles  and  musketry  conveyed  the  alarm  in  the  direction  of  St.  Catha- 
rine's. T  .e  commander  viewed  the  ground,  and  observed,  '(Jentlemon,  here 
we  must  fight  on  our  return.'  The  detachment  proceed<Ml  until  wi'liin  a  mile 
and  a  half  of  Decoo's  house,  in  the  original  order  of  march,  tliat  is,  the  mounted 
militia  in  front,  the  coiinnaiidiiig  oflicer  at  the  head  of  the  tlelacliment  from  the 
fourteenth  regiment — tiie  artillery  and  wagons — Major  Taylor  at  the  head  of  the 
companies  of  the  si.\tli  and  twenty-tiiird  regiments — the  dragoons  in  the  rear, 
and  flankers  out  on  tlie  right  and  left  from  each  company.  Having  passed  the 
road  from  St.  Catharine's,  where  it  crosses  the  iiiountain-road,  by  which  the 
delacliment  marched,  a  piece  of  woods  on  either  side  of  the  road,  some  fields 
ahead,  the  Indians  fired  a  volley  on  the  rear  guard,  and  killed  and  wounded 
three  or  fi)ur  men.  The  detaehment  was  forced  lo  the  riglit,  and  in  a  moment 
the  action  became  general.  The  wagons,  artillery,  horses,  and  dragoons  were 
ordereii  to  the  roar,  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's  fire. 

"Some  of  the  soi.  (li.iant  Major  Chapin's  men  now  demanded,  'Where  is  our 
commander?  What  are  we  to  ilol'  The  commanding  ofiicer  looked  for  liim  in 
vain,  and  replied,  'Von  Imve  no  commander  but  myself;  turn  into  the  ranks  and 
fight  with  my  men.'  Some  did  so;  others  found  it  as  convenient  to  •  .1  '  their 
commander  in  the  hollow,  alongside  the  wagons. 

"The  second  in  conmuind.  Major  Taylor,  was  unhorsed  the  first  fire,  and  af- 
terwards fought  on    fi)ot.     The  surgeon  remained  until  his  horse  was  twice 
wounded,  when  he  was  ordered  to  the  wagons.     Thus,  the  commanding  oflicer 
^one  was  mounted,  and  consequently  rompclled  to  carry  his  own  orders  to 


i' 


Ife 


e 


(UAi'I.NS    RLVlL\r    Ol''    AHMbTliO.NU  S 


every  point  v.horo  ilwy  became  nscessary.  He  roceived  a  shot  through  tha 
t'li^i  in  the  early  part  oftlio  action,  wiiich  iio  concealed,  ll'arinjr  a  bad  inipres- 
eiou  injo'ht  ho  made  on  hiy  troop;;. 

'•Al'ijr  liio  co;itcs;t  had  continued  soir-c  time,  tlio  commanaiiifvoflicer  endeav- 
ored to  make  it  derisive:  for  which  purpo.^?  lie  lefi  orders  with  iVlojor  Taylor  to 
protect  the  artillery,  tJce.;  and  furiiiinfr  the  fourteenth  inlf  fii];^!e  file,  e  company 
on  eacli  Hank  thrown  bade  cii  pctcncc,  a  cliar^ro  at  quid;  step  was  commenced 
throujjh  the  woods,  and  p-irt  of  the  enemy  driven  across  the  fiehl,  where  many 
le!l.  The  chary,-e  luiviuj;-  been  made  oblhiuely  to  the  rijilit,  i:i  order  to  thdve  the 
enoiuy  into  the  cleared  ground — ilii-i  was  no  sooner  effected,  l!i:iria  furious  attack 
commenced  on  our  left.  The  chnrji-e  we."!  now  continued  oblitpiely  to  t!ie  left, 
a,nd  the  enemy  driven  to  a  considerable  disianee;  not,  hovt-ever,  without  keeping 
up  a  constant  lire  on  u;;,  Vidiich  from  the  thickne.-is  of  the  v.oods,  and  mode  of 
fiEfhting,  wiiere  every  comb.Ttaut  is  his  own  conunander,  was  perfectly  in  his 
pov.'er.  Finding,  in  miiorl,  that  inufdictecrs  unaccustomed  to  tijrhliii;';  in  any 
other  than  a  regular  order,  could  not  maintain  to  mioqual  a  contest  without 
l~reat  less,  a  party  of  skirmisliers  v.'ere  ordered,  and  the  troops  retreated  by  tilin;r 
to  the  rear,  from  the  right  of  companies.  Ailer  reachin!!^  ajrain  the  sneall  field, 
t.ho  line  wiis  again  formed  behind  the  f'lic,  (the  enemy  liaving  advanced  as  we 
retreated,)  and  tlie  contest  kei)t  up  until  twenty-:-i;:  roundj  were  e.\])ended. 

"The  coiumandii!;^  oiiieer  now  daphed  into  the  rear,  and  found  ftlaj.  C'lmjiin 
and  a  parcel  oi'his  men  arountl  t)ie  v.'afTonp.  'For  (iod's  sake,  Miijor,  do  somc- 
thinr^;  you  do  not  ti::^!it  your  men,  thesi  take  them  and  furnisii  mine  with  ammu- 
nition, and  cjirry  o!l'lhc  woaniled  to  the  wa.'vons,  that  1  nray  not  be  compelled 
to  talie  men  tor  this  purpose  out  of  my  ranks.' 

"Major  Ciiapin  appeared  shortly  ailer  tlii.s  in  the  rear  of  the  line,  with  a  ke^r 
of  cr.rlrid;;'e3  ou  his  hor.;e;  ho  called  a  soldier,  iianded  it  over  and  resumed  Ins 
Btp.lion  in  the  hoUirr.  Tliis  was  the  wiiole  of  iiis  exertion,  and  the  only  time  he 
appeared  on  t!ie  battle-groun;l  durinn;  three  hours;  this  is  the  man  w!;o,  in  an 
otHclal  docmnent,  was  called  'tiie  brave  Major  Chapin.'  Tiio  commanding  offi- 
cer now  directed  men  to  'jedetaidied  from  each  company  to  carry  oH'tho  wound- 
ed, and  <j't  a  sup])Iy  of  cartrid<res:  Vvdiicli  beiuLi;  r  ffe!!tei!,  (the  contest  r>tili  con- 
tinuing) Captain  McDowell  was  (Hrected  to  limber  iiis  pieces,  and  proceed  v.ith 
tliewagon.T,  on  which  were  loaded  the  wound(Ml,  imder  the  escort  of  a  company 
of  infantry,  to  a  position  about  a  ipiarter  of"  a  nfdo  to  the  right,  and  somewhat  to 
the  rear.  The  ol)ject  ot  tJiis  movement  was,  if  possil)lp,  to  jret  round  the  piccu 
of  woods  on  our  right  occupied  b}-  tin  enemy,  and  so  regain  the  main  road,  and 
commence  a  retreat,  which  secured  the  only  resource  to  wave  the  detachment. 

"Having  arrived  on  the  ground  spoken  of",  iha  trocps  were  formed  into  close 
column;  but  from  t!io  killed,  wounded  and  skulking,  om-  nundjcr  smened  nmcli 
reduced.  They  had  marched  eleven  miles  that  morning  without  refreshment; 
they  had  fought  three  hour.-i,  the  weather  very  w,  rm,  and  consequently  the  lroo|)3 
were  much  oxhauated.  The  counnanding  ollic'r  thought  of  ordering  thiin  a 
ration  of  whiskey,  butsonie  Indians  getting  in  our  rear,  and  comuK'neing  a  lire, 
there  was  not  time;  and  t!i"  commamiing  oliicer  in.'iirmed  lii.s  troojis  that  as  the 
enemy  were  seen  constantly  to  cross  the  road  on  which  we  were  then  Ibrmed 
within  long  ohot  of  them, "his  intention  was  to  wait  a  little  longer  until  the 
enemy's  principal  force  had  [jassed,  then  to  rush  on  him  with  a  de^-pernte  charge, 
and  if  i)ossibb'  to  gain  the  main  road  and  retreat,  lie  cucourage'd  his  tronj>s  to 
be  resolute;  tiiesi;  were  the  "uly  means  in  our  power,  as  the  enemy  were  con- 
Btanlly  gathering  strength,  and  we  losing;  added  to  that,  the  anmumition  low, 
and  but  three  cartridges  of  grepe  leO  for  the  licld-pieces. 

"At  this  juncture.  I.ieutcnant-Fit/.gibbon  arrived  liom  the  enemy  with  a  flag 
of  truce;  Captain  McDowell  was  sent  to  r  ccive  jiim.  Fitzgibbon  stated  that 
wo  were  fiir  outmniibeied;  tiiat  we  could  not  |)(is;-ibly  ctieajie,  and  that  they  had 
a  number  of  Indians  from  the  north-west,  by  no  means  as  easily  conlroled  an 
those  from  the  vicinity,  and  having  suH'ered  very  severely,  they  were  outrageous, 
and  woulil  commence  a  general  massacre;  he  was,  tli;'.ef)re,  desirous  to  save 
the  effusion  of  blood,  and  demanded  a  surrender.  Me  was  told,  that  we  knew 
how  to  die,  and  they  should  hc;ir  from  m  in  a  li'w  minutes,  lie  returned  very 
•horfly,  repentinjf  th"  (inmmon<i.  and  ndd»(i,  that  if  we  did  not  boheve  we  wcri 


i! 


n 


NOTICES  OP    THE    WAR. 


9 


outnuiiiberecf,  and  could  not  [)oss;l)lr  oacape,  an  oflicor  would  be  ponnittod  to 
view  their  troops.  Lieutenant  (Joilwin  w;iH  i:  'nt,  and  arrivinjr  at  the  hciul  oi'  tlrj 
lane  wlicre  !i  part  of'thoir  force  w;is  station"!',  Colonel  Dc  llerrn  ordered  liini 
bacli,  sayinjr,  this  was  too  Jiumilialinfr  to  he  jierniitte'l.  On  his  retr.rn,  the 
coiuinan(hn;ir  ollicer  asked  those  under  his  coniniand,  what  was  to  he  done' 
The  second  in  eonnnand  oliserved,  ho  was  willlnff  to  do  any  thinjr,  (in  other 
words,  to  {iivo  no  oi)inion.)  The  eoinman:iin;r  ollieer  said,  he  did  not  a^k  the 
oi)inion  ot'liisS  ollieers,  or  v.i.:!i  thcni  to  hear  any  :;hare  ot'tlie  l)hinie  tluit  nii^^lit 
attach;  he  wuh  eoninmndinir  otiicer,  and,  therehjie,  would  tulii.'  all  tlie  rosjionsi- 
bility;  he  only  wisiied  to  know  tluir  vimv  ofoiir  situation.  Sonu;  of  them  oh- 
BCrvod,  they  did  not  think  it  possihie,  with  cr.eli  a  {breearoend  us,  tlie  fxhtiustpd 
stale  ofour  men,  and  seventeen  miles  to  retreat,  the  road  runniufr  prinei]).illy 
throujjh  woods,  that  one  t"onrth  ot'us  eoiild  escai)e  death.  As  we  must  letri'at 
in  rej^ular  order  alonjr  the  road,  while  the  iiiiniense  number  of  Indians  would  euii- 
stantly  hang  on  our  llanks  and  reai',  and  shoot  us  down  at  pleasure,  without 
our  being  enabled  1o  injure  tii(^m,  more  es|)eeiaily  when  our  few  remaining  r'ar- 
tridges  siiould  he  cxpendi'd.  This  coinciding  with  the  opinion  of  the  connnaud- 
ing  ohicor,  Cajjtain  MelJowell  was  din.'cted  to  o'ltain  the  best  terjus  he  coulil, 
wiiich  consisted  in  permitting  the  officers  to  retain  their  side-amis  and  horses, 
the  militia  to  return  home  on  parole,  and  the  detachment  to  surrender  prisoners 
of  war. 

"Thus  terminated  one  of  the  most  unfortunate  and  impolitie  expeditions  that 
ever  was  planned.  Five  hundred  men  were  risked  'to  batt(  r  down  with  a 
twelve  and  six  ])ounder,  Ueiioo's  stone  house,  said  to  be  fortilied  and  garrisoned 
with  a  company  of  regulars  and  sixty  to  one  hundred  Indians,  to  ca|)lure  or  dis- 
lodge the  enemy,  and  return  by  the  way  of  St.  David's  and  Queenstou.' 

"This  intelligence  was  derived  from  a  source  decided  not  enlith'd  t(j  confidonee, 
having  long  previous  to  this  been  known  by  many  for  an  unl)hishing  liiu-;  he- 
bides,  had  not  l)een  within  severa  I  miles  of  the  post  to  be  attacked,  of  thu  utrengtli 
of  which  he  undertook  to  give  a  parlicukir  detail." 

Willi  rcgiird  to  tlio  Beaver  Dsiin  cxpediiion,  alioul  whicl;  so  ninny 
misrepresentations  have  been  made,  1  have  to  say,  tliat  a  short  time 
before  ihc  e.xpedition  ordered  out,  Gen(;ral  Dearborn,  who  llien  coin- 
nianded  at  Fort  George,  sent  for  mo  to  his  (juarterw,  and  tuld  nio 
what  the  expedition  was  (fetcriuined  on,  and  tliat  iho  command  of  it 
was  to  be  given  to  Colonel  Bcerstler,  and  that  I  and  my  corps  were 
to  form  ])artof  it,  and  that  from  my  knowledge  of  the  country,  c^c, 
much  advantage  to  the  expedition  was  expected  from  us.  i  had 
liothiiig  to  sny  against  the  expedition,  nor  against  myself  and  men 
making  part  of  it,  only  that  wo  were  continually  on  some  fatiguing 
jaiuit  or  otliiM',  and  w(M-e  ahiinst  worn  down,  jiut  I  did  sugg'st  to 
the  General  the  expediency  of  giving  tho  command  either  to  Cols. 
Mill(M',  Scott,  or  Christee,  telling  iiim  that  ColonellJ.  had  not,  in  my 
opinion,  the  necessary  skill  for  such  a  command.  He  did  not  mani- 
fest any  ollence  at  my  freedom,  hut  told  me  that  Col.  }].  complained 
of  being  ill-treated  as  to  separate  commands,  and  that  ho  believed 
liiniself  competent  to  this  one.  I,  oi"  cours<>,  submi(t"d.  All  the 
transactions  in  that  alfair  were  of  course  known  both  to  eur  own 
people  and  tho  British,  so  that  ruiy  attempt  to  impose  on  tlie  public 
by  any  partial  or  cunning  .statement  would  be  foolish  and  absurd. 


i  ■• 


in 


't 


10 


ciiapin's  review  op  armstroxg's 


;  I 

i  y 

I  I 

J  (- 

t  i 


Two  (lavs  before  tlic  battle  I  was  ordcretl  out  to  reconnoitre  tho 
enemy,  and  was  directed  to  go  beyond  the  Beaver  Uanis.  I  did  so, 
and  on  my  return  into  the  neighborhood  of  llic  Dams,  I  made  a  halt 
of  about  an  hour,  and  took  one  or  two  prisoners.  I  returned  down 
througli  Lundy's  Lane,  where  in  the  time  of  a  short  halt  which  I 
made  tliere,  1  lost  one  man  who  was  taken  prisoner,  which  hapiiened 
in  this  way.  While  my  party  was  halted  we  were  attacked  by  that 
Avilcy  odicov,  Fit/gibbon.  We  soon  beat  off  Fitzgibbon's  party  and 
routed  tlieni,  but  making  a  rapid  movement  to  save  my  men,  one  of 
them  who  was  more  shick  than  his  fellows,  by  his  own  negligence  or 
indolence  was  taken  prisoner.  1  returned  to  the  Fort  and  made  my 
report  to  Gen.  Dearborn.  In  this  report  I  said  uotliing  of  a  party  of 
the  Dritish  fortifying  Decoo's  house;  because  when  I  passed  that 
house  there  Mas  no  fortifying  nor  any  tiling  like  it  going  on  there; 
nor  was  a  British  oilicer  or  soldier  to  be  seen  there.  Next  day  I  was 
informed  that  tlion;  were  a  number  fortifying  at  Decoo's  house.  I 
told  liiiii  1  did  not  believe  it,  lor  that  there  were  certainly  no  troops 
there  whoa  I  was  at  the  spot.  I  have  no  douljt,  lioweven',  that  his 
inforivatioii  was  not  alfr)g"ther  incorrect,  for  it  afterwards  appeared 
that  after  I  left  the  plac"  Ca[itain  Fit/.gibbon  canio  there  with  his 
company,  and  staid  a  short  time. 

An  exaggerated  account  of  Fit/.gibbon's  operations  determined 
Cleneral  Di.'arborn  *-)  "^i  !if]  out  a  party  to  dislodge  him.  Uii  his  re- 
(piiring  mc  to  go,  wiiIi  part  of  my  muii,  on  this  service,  1  asked  him 
who  was  to  eoiumuiid?  lie  said  Col.  Bd'rstlcr;  and  then  it  was  that 
1  olijected  to  Colonel  Bcersfier  having  th,'  eoinmand;  and  I  did  tluMi 
tell  the  Ceneral  that  8colt,  Chri:-iic,  or  Millor,  Mere,  either  of  them, 
b.'tter  (pialified  for  such  a  coiiimand  than  Colonel  Ba-rstler.  The 
CJeneral  replied  that  Birrstler  complained  that  he  luul  not  had  an  op- 
portunity to  distinguish  himself,  and  that  he  claimed  the  c<Jiiiniand  of 
ihat  iiarly  as  his  right.  1  toM  him  thai  I  suspected  his  iK.'termination 
in  this  inatler  (  ...id  neither  salisfy  Bier.stier  nor  anv  of  us.  lie 
tlien  s:iid  with  some  wanutli,  "How  is  this,  sir?  Vou  can  go  farther 
into  the  country  than  i  iiov;  pi'o[io.se  to  send  vuu,  and  return  sal'ely 
with  the  men  you  take  oul;  and  now  I  propose  to  send  yon  out  in  a 
strong  party  of  oOO  infantry  and  two  pieces  of  artillery,  you  start 
at  dilliculties,  and  raise  objf:ctions.*'  1  said  that  the  largeness  of 
the  corps  he  proposed  to  send  out  was  what  T  objected  to;  because  it 
would  only  Iianipcr  our  operations.     1   told  him  that  us  my  corps 


NOTICES    OP    THE    WAR. 


11 


consisted  wholly  of  mounted  riflomcn,  wc  could  quickly  beat  up  the 
enemies  q.uartcrs,  from  some  distance;  and  having  pursued  our  ad- 
vantage as  far  as  circumstances  appeared  to  warrant — o-  if  wc  were 
nut  furtunale  enougli  to  gain  any  advantage,   wo  could  be  off  and 
leave  them  in  a  moment.     Jkit  witli  such  a  force  as  he  proposed  to 
send,  it  would  lie  far  otherwise.     That  such  a  body  of  men  could  pro- 
ceed but  very  little  way  into  the  country  from  the  Fort  without  being 
observed  by  the  enemy — tliat  within  four  liours  they  could  collect  at 
any  point  within  a  march  of  that  length,  500  regidars  and  seven 
hundred  Indians,  cVc,  beside  three  or  four  hundred  militia.     My 
remonstrances  huwever,  were  of  no  use.     I  was  ordered  to  go  out 
under  Colonel  BttM'stler's  command,  taking  with  me  such  men  as  I 
could  furnish  with  horses  and  equipments  for   the  expedition.     I 
repaired  to  my  cantonment,  paraded,  and  selected  my  men,  and 
marched  them  down  to  the  camp,  without  calling  on  Colonel  Bccrst- 
ler.     Soon  after  my  arrival,  Colonel  Beerstler  appeared  with  his 
artillery  and  inl'antry.     (leneral  Dearborn  came  out  to  us  and  gave 
us  our  orders.     I  was  directed  by  the  General,  to  keep  in  the  rear, 
as  a  guard  to  the  troops  in  advance.     When  we  had  got  about  two 
miles  from  the  Fort,  the  troops  were  halted,  and  I  was  ordered  in 
advance.     Wc   proceeded  to  Quecnston  where  we  halted  for  the 
night;  and  1  was  innnediately  ordered  to  the  farthest  part  of  the 
town  to  establish  such  jtickets  and  send  out  such  patroles  as  1  might 
think  sufiicient  to  protest  the  detachment  from  surprise.     Early  in 
the  morning  wo   marched  from  Queenston.     I  then  remarked  to 
Colonel  E(]erstler  that,  by  that  time  the  enemy  must  be  apprised  of 
our  be,'::?  out  from  the  Fort,  and  that  we  might  expect  Leiorc  long, 
to  hear  from  Fitzgibbon.     Tlie  Colonel  asked  how  many  men  Filz- 
gibbon  liad?     My  answer  was,  th.at  "lie  had  some  rc;^;ilar  troops, 
some  Indians,  and  some  militia.''     "Very  well,  then,  (said  he.)  let 
me  meet  him,  tliat  I  may  lay  my  sword  hilt  to  hilt  with  his."     After 
we  had  marc!icd  about  three  miles  my  flankers  shot  two  Indians. — 
The  Colonel,  licaring  the  report  of  the  pieces,  ord.Mvd  the  detachment 
to  halt,  and  yent  for  inc  to  come  toward  lilm.     As  1  met  him  he  asked 
what  ihat  firing  was  for?     1  told  li'm;  and  he  ordered  us  to  march 
on  again.     We  did  so,  and  as  we  approached  >St.  David's,  (which  is 
about  lour  miles  from  Queenston,)  I  saw  several  Eritisli  oflicors 
come  out  of  tlie  houses.     They  looked  at  us  for  a  moment;  then 
fired  the  alarm — sounded  the  bugle,  and  made  oft'  with  good  speed. 


.    I 


13 


niAviN  s  uEVii:w  op  aiimstrcxo  s 


^ 


*    '='« 


1    d 


Wo  soon  hoard  tlio  alarm  gun.s,  at  the  f^cvcral  cantonmonts  in  (ho 
ncigiiboi'hood.  I  was  again  cdlcfl  back,  and  ciujuircd  of  by  tlio 
comnuinding  ofTicnr,  wlial  all  tins  meant  ?  I  told  him  it  was  an  alarm 
given  to  the  dift'orcnt  cantonments,  and  that  by  observing  the  dillerent 
alarms,  he  might  judge  oi"  their  rcdativc  positions.  He  then  ordered 
mc  forward,  and  we  proceeded  on  the  niarcdi.  We  had  not  got  fur 
beyond  St.  David's  when  he  sent  for  mo  again,  and  onqnired  of  me 
what  the  conntry  was  above  t!ie  mountains?  I  informed  him  that  it 
was  an  open,  levcd  country.  lie  then  said,  "This  road  is  so  inter- 
rupted with  ravines,  and  there  is  so  much  thick  woods,  that  it  is  favo- 
rable for  tho  Indians  to  attack  us;  can  wo  not  get  up  the  inountain?" 
f  informed  him,  that  about  a  mile  ahead,  there  was  a  good  pass  up 
the  mountain.  (So  this  iieight  is  universally  called  by  the  Canadi- 
ans.) l>y  his  direction,  I  led  tho  way  up  this  pass.  Upon  gaining 
the  top  of  the  mountain  we  were  halted  for  some  time.  After  resu- 
ming the  march,  and  proceeding  about  a  mile,  I  saw,  an  open  field, 
in  some  o\)Qn  woods,  a  number  of  Indians  running  to  a  point  of  thick 
woods  that  lay  on  each  side  of  our  road.  As  I  had  been  ambushed 
at  the  same  place  but  a  l\'.\v  days  before,  I  immediately  saw  their  ob- 
ject, a!>d  went  back  to  the  Colonel  and  informed  him  of  it.  He  has- 
tily, and  as  it  then  appeared  to  me  in  some  confusion  of  mind,  ordered 
inc  to  advance  with  my  party,  and  to  keep  at  Insl  half  a  mile  in  ad- 
vance. 1  advanced,  and  while  I  was  doing  so,  prepared  my  men 
for  tho  attack.  Wo,  however,  were  sullered  to  pass.  So  were  tho 
Colonel  and  his  men,  until  his  rear  guard  camo  into  the  pass,  when 
they  were  fired  upon.  On  hearing  the  fire,  I  halted,  and  wheeled  to 
tho  right  about,  and  rode  back  full  s[)eed  towards  tho  main  body. 
When  I  had  got  about  half  way  I  met  Colonel  Drerstler  alone,  at  full 
speed,  come,  as  it  seemed,  to  inform  me  that  there  was  an  attack.  I 
told  him  I  understood  it,  and  continued  my  course  until  I  got  near 
the  main  body,  when  I  v/as  fired  upon.  I  immediately  wheeled  my 
mon  directly  upon  the  enemy.  They  retreated,  and  wo  pursued 
them  probably  {\\g  hundred  in  number,  through  the  woods.  They 
wore  running  from  us,  and  v/e  making  all  pursuit  that  could  bo, 
when  we  were  overtaken  by  a  messenger  from  Colonel  Bcersller  and 
ordered  back.  I  obeyed  the  order,  but  as  soon  as  I  came  to  Colonel 
Bccrstlcr  1  remonstrated  aga.nst  it,  and  told,  (what  every  body  ought 
to  know,)  that  tho  Indians,  when  onco  routed,  were  a  harmless 
enemy,  especially  if  well  pursued.     He  said  thoy  were  not  all  gone; 


NOTICES    OK    TIIK    WAR. 


v.) 


nnd  I  pi'otty  soon  pprcoivcd  about  two  liundrcd  that  had  s<>pnratcd 
from  their  main  hod}-,  and  wore  hanging  about  upton  tlio  right  of  our 
army,  nnd  hooping  up  the  iiro.  I  told  him  tliosc  iniglit  soon  bo  dis- 
porsetl.  As  I  was  in  the  act  of  turning  from  him,  hoord'jrod  rue  not 
to  leave  the  field.  Wo,  however,  rode  briskly  to  tlie  fjnco,  giving 
the  enemy  at  the  same  time,  a  good  firo;  nnd  one  or  two  of  our  ni;Mi, 
by  my  direction,  di:^mounted  and  threw  down  tlr,,'  fence.  The 
Indians  ran  otf.  I  again  returned  to  the  Colonel  and  told  him  it  ap- 
peared to  mo,  that  wo  were  playing  a  useless  game,  tiiat  wo  were 
losing  men  without  an  object.  1  urged  that  we  should  gi  on,  and 
aGComplihjh  the  order,  telling  him  that  when  wo  had  done  that  wc 
should  be  ready  to  act  as  circumstances  might  require.  During  this 
conversation  there  was  no  firing. 

Tiio  Colonel  then  said  to  me,  "Go  to  your  station  and  keep  a  good 
look  oirt."  I  rode  back  accordingly;  my  oflicers  asked  nic  what 
wc  were  to  do?  I  tokl  them  I  had  no  orders.  After  remaining  in 
this  stato  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  the  Indians  again  conmicnced 
firing  upon  us.  Soon  after  this  firing  began  the  Colonel  sent  for 
me  and  said,  "There  (pointing  to  a  thicket  of  bushes)  arc  some  Brit- 
ish officers,  and  some  men  stationed,  can  you  not  dislodge  them?''  On 
my  replying  that  I  presumed  I  could,  he  said,  "Well,  do  it  then."  I 
then  selected  a  few  of  the  best  sharp-shooters  in  my  corps,  and  di- 
rected them  up  a  ravine  to  a  place  where  under  cover  of  some  buslies, 
they  fired  upon  the  party  pointed  out  by  the  Colonel,  and  dislodged 
them.  Soon  after  this,  there  was  more  firing  from  the  Indians, 
when  the  Colonel  called  mc,  and  ordered  me  to  select  some  proper 
position  for  the  artillery  in  our  rear;  and  to  order  them  on  to  it. 
About  thirty  rods  in  our  rear  was  a  ridge  of  ground,  upon  which  I 
ordered  the  pieces  to  be  taken;  and  placed  one  of  them  on  the  right, 
the  other  on  the  left;  and  then  informed  the  Colonel  his  order  wap 
obeyed.  He  said,  "Well,  I  shall  retire  with  my  men  back  of  the 
artillery — you  will  remain  till  furthc:  orders;  but  you  are  not  to 
pursue  the  enemy  out  of  the  field."  I  charged  through  the  field,  and 
made  a  feint  of  going  into  the  woods,  upon  this,  the  Indians  ran.  I 
was  very  soon  ordered  back  to  tb.o  Colonel,  whose  first  words  to  mo 
were,  "What  is  now  to  be  done?"  I  advised  that  we  should  accom- 
plish the  order,  or  return  to  the  post;  saying  it  was  neither  politic 
nor  soldier-like  to  remain  there  playing  hide  and  seek  with  the  Indi- 
ans.  His  mind  appeared  to  be  in  great  perturbation,  and  he  hesitated 


14 


CIIAl'IN  S    llEVIEW    OP    ARM8TK0N(J  S 


I    i 


n 
I 


;  I! 

I  I- 

>  t 

\  t 


I   fi      ■ 

i    J.      I 

If   » 

1 1  ; 

i      I 


wlmt  to  ilo.    W'Jiilc  thus  situated,  T  saw  Criptnin  Fitzgibbon  approach- 
ing us  with  Ji  ll'ig.     I  could  lint  coiicoivi^  whnt  the  object  might  bo. 
"What,  (says  tlu;  Colonel,)  U  there  u  (lag— what  do  they  want?"    I 
said  I  could  lujt  iiiia";iii.: — that  tho  ci^uiitrv  was  open  behind  them — 
that  they  could  run  awny — that  there  was  no  oflieer  killed,  nor  any 
pri.'.oner  of  distinction  taken  that  I  knew  of.     l)Ut,  the  (lag  soon  ar- 
rived, aii'l  til!'  (iu:;sli(in  was  solved.     Captain  Fitzgibbon  demanded 
of  Colonel  I!(erst!i;r  a  surrender  of  hiiuscif  and  the  troops  composing 
the  party.      I  was  called  up  and  inforined  of  tlie  demand.     I  replied 
that  we  coul!  not  think  of  surrenderiii^jfui- two  or  three  hours  vet — 
not  until  the  enemy  had  time  to  call  in  more  men  from  their  canton- 
ment, as  there  was  not  enough  to  form  a  respectable  guard — that  I 
should  be  mortified  to  be  marched  through  tlio  coui:try  by  such  an 
inferior  force.     Fitzgibbon  declared  he  could  show  us  double  <'.i'r 
numbers.     1  replied,   not  within  four  iiours.     He  then,  addroiisiiig 
the  Colonel,  said,   "You  must  determine  soon  for  the  Indians  arc 
very  unmanageable,  and  I  shall  be  obliged  to  let  them  loose  upon 
you.     At  this  declaration  tlie  Colonel  became  alarmed  exceedingly, 
and  said,    "For  Clod's  sake  keep  the  Indians  from  us!"     I  then 
turned  to  my  men  and  communicated  to  them  my  orders,  that  they 
should  be;  ready  for  a  charge  as  soon  as  the  flag  should  be  dismissed. 
On  overhearing  some  of  the  talk  between  our  Colonel  and  the  Cap- 
tain I  spoke  to  the  ( 'o''  rel  and  lold  him,  that  he  could  do  as  ho 
pleased,  l)ut  as  for  I'.ie  and  my  men,  wo  were  a  distinct  corps,  and 
could  do  as  we  pleased.     1  requested  jiim  aside;  and  told  hiin  (and 
that  very  truly)  that  lie  might  safely  take  his  men  through  the  large 
farms  on  our  right,  which  v.oi'.ld  sc-nire  him  from  the  Indians;  and 
that  I  could  remain  on  the  field,  and  keen  the  enemy  in  check  till  ho 
could  return  to  the  Fort.     At  tli's  time  Fitzgibbon  turned  toward  us, 
and  said,  "You  must  dcLeruiiuo   immediately — I  camiot  be  dallied 
with.     You,  Major  Chapin,  and  your  men  shall  be  paroled,  and  suf- 
fered to  go  lio;ne.'''     'i'he  Colonel  .iaid,  "We  will  surrender."     Im- 
mediately I  roile  up  to  itiv  wounded,  fifteen  iu  »  •;.»  '"?,  (most  of  whom 
vere  in  the  care  of  two  well  iwcn  caei:,)     .i  ;  .  ■/.   ..;  ,  out  theii  .udd, 
told  them  to  ride  oil,  and  to  ride  as  fast  as  liio  v/ounded  could  bear; 
and  to  go  directly  to  the  General's  quar'CiS  and  report  to  him  all 
they  knew  of  the  affair.     As  they  rode  off,  I  returned  to  the  Colonel. 
1]y  this  time,  several  IJritish  officers  had  come  up,  and  tlic  Colonel 
ijOvv    very   peremptorily   ordered  mc  to  surrender.     I  answered, 


^ 


•I 


NOTICES    OV    T!IE    WAR. 


15 


id, 


"I  obey."  "Then,  sir,"  said  lin,  "iitteiid  to  seeing  how  tho  articles 
of  capitulation  are  ilravvii.'"  TIk;  4tli  article  allowed  mo  and  my 
men  to  bo  paroled  and  soiu  lioiii?;  I)i!t  we  were  retained  until  wo  could 
be  niarclicdto  Gt-neral  \'inc!Mit'.s  cpiar'-'-rs  at  -10  mile  creelv.  When 
wo  arrived  tliere,  F  was  inlunni'd  by  tlio  J'ritisb  olHcers  that  I  was 
to  bo  datained;  and  tlia,  my  Colonel  liad  agrectl  that  the  Uli  article 
should  be  cxpusiged.  As  soon  a;  I  cduld  obf'un  p^rmissioii  to  co 
the  Colonel,  [  dcmandi'd  of  him  I  >  know  if  lij  had  cuii-ifnted  to  ex- 
punge the  4tli  article,  and  if  so,  whi-.t  ct)uld  hav  inducfxl  him  to  take 
such  a  step.  He  re[)Iied  that  1  had  s(Mit  oil"  forty  of  my  men,  with- 
out his  orders,  with  their  horses  and  rifles,  after  be  had  agreed  to 
.uirrender;  that  this  made  the  Indians  very  restless  and  uneasy,  and 
that  if  I  was  suflored  to  go  with  my  men,  he  and  his  iiiMi  wmild  bo 
massacred,  and  that  it  was  for  their  safety  that  I  was  to  be  detained. 
Colonel  BaM'stler  and  his  men  W(>re  ordend  to  mareli,  but  my  men 
and  1  were  kept  under  a  strong  guard. 

While  my  men  were  in  the  guard-hous",  I  olitained  sermission  to 
go  in  and  sec  them,  alledgnig  that  some  of  th!;ni  we'  unwell.  1 
advised  six  of  l!ie;n  to  rini  away,  and  shewed  them  bu  tlicy  could 
do  it  with  safety,  liy  ji'iinling  out  to  th.'ia  an  unusual  aui!  somewhat 
diflicult  pass  np  the  momitain,  and  by  instructing  them  ho"  •  to  escape 
the  centinel.     They  succeeded  in  making  their  escape. 

l''ivc  days  after  we  were  ordered  to  Burlington  heigiits,  as  it 
was  s;iid,  for  our  better  security;  and  there  we  were  kept  tW'T  weeks. 
During  this  time,  I  twice  bad  leave  to  go  into  the  guard-bouse  for 
tlK>  purpose  of  making  such  medical  prescriptions  for  my  men  as 
their  conditions  might  reiiuire.  At  each  of  these  times  I  i  irected 
several  men  how  to  escape,  and  they  accompli  .bed  it.  Soon  after 
the  last  time,  the  British  Colonel  Evans  called  on  me,  and  said  *■)  me, 
in  a  hasty  and  irritated  manner,  "How  is  this  sir?  every  time  you 
go  to  s'^o  your  men  some  of  them  run  away."'  I  eool'y  ii!)ser\  nl  to 
bim,  They  don't  like  to  stay  here — Ihey  are  not  so  well  used  hero 
as  t'  y  arc  at  home."  "Well,  sir,"  said  he,  "you  will  be  ni  vod 
from  hen;  to-morrow  morning  for  Quebec,  and  from  there  I  presi  iie, 
sent  to  England.  I  told  bim  it  would  bo  a  pleasant  trip,  lor  in  hat 
case  1  sbi)uld  have  an  opportunity  to  view  that  Island  before  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  [)erhaps  take  the  tour  of  Europe.  He  left  mc 
rather  unceremoniously. 


10 


CII-VriN  S    REVIEW    or    AUMSTUONG  S 


M- 


I 


4 


■■|  I 


;  ^    " 


\ 


The  next  irnniiiig  \\>''  won;  coiuniandcd  to  embark  on  board  two 
boa!; — baficaiix.     1  wan  ordered  into  one  of  tlicin  with  the  principn! 
puit  of  the  gii.' ;•(!.     ?dy  men,  among  wh'jm  w;'.s  Capt.  Kackrider  were 
placed  ill  tiie  oihiM'  huat  with  a  siualier  guard.     Orders  were  given 
to  lh'>  Captain  of  the   boat  I  was  plac^-'d  in,  to  keep  his  l)oat  four 
rods  aliead  of  tl>,"  other.      Liki;  orders  were  given  to  .he  other  boat's 
co)n!n,r.id-:r,  v.ho  v.as  a  Se.'j'ant,  to  !cL'(;p  Iiis  boat  four  rods  astern 
of  tiie  othf  r.      At"terviards,  in  pursuauee  of  this  order,  we  started 
from  Ilarilngton  lleigiits,  a'ld    kept   il   iinlil  we  had  run  tlirough 
tlie  ;iiii;iil  lake,  and  iiad  also  jiassed  a  fle'et  of  boats  coming  up  the 
lake;  lli  ■n,  seeing  the  coastclear,  1  made  a  signal  to  Capt.  Sackrider. 
Our  own  men  were  rowing  the  hind^n'  boat,  and  he  whispered  to 
tliem  to  increaso  their  speed;  while  1  was  endeavoring  to  delude  our 
Captain  by  diverting  him  with  an  interesting  story.     Somewhat  sur- 
])ri.-;e(l  at  ;;;eeing  thuni  ju  4  und>M-  ids  st'rn,  our  Captain  ordered  them 
back.     1  thr;,\v   nut  some  slight  rcmarli  by  way  of  excuse  for  their 
being  so  near,  l)ut  as  they  kept  tlieir  place  ho  again  very  loudly  or- 
dered them  to  iall  back.     I  tlieii  loudly,  and  with  all  the  firmness  I 
could  muster,  commantkid  them  not  to  fall  back  an  inch,  but  to  do 
their  duty,  at  the  same    time    assuring  Captam    Showers    that    i 
commanded  tlie  party.      lie  attempted  to  draw  his  sword  while  sonio 
of  his  soldiers  made  thrusts  at  me  with  their  bayonets.     Instead  of 
drawing  his  sword,    however,   In-,  by  some  means,  just  then,   fell 
into  the  bottom  of  the  boat.     Two  of  his  men,  in  making  u  thrust 
at  me,  with  their  bayonc^ts,  fell  atop  of  him.     They  then  being  in 
su(di  an  awkward  position,  I  stepped  upon  them;  in  the  mean  time, 
my  men  rushed,  from  their  boat  to  that  of  tlui  Captain's.      While  this 
was  occurring,  Captain  Ilaminoud,  of  my  ccrps,  seized  the  guard  of 
the  other  boat.     Al!    things  becoming  (piiet,    I  distributed  tlu;    men 
equally,  in  the  two  boats.     I  succeeded  to  th(!  command  of  our  fleet 
of  tsvo  batteaux,  with  no  little  akn'rity:  our  men,  too,  felt  tlxdr  con- 
dition vastly  improved;  we  shii'ted  our  course' — crossed  J^ake  Onta- 
ri«),  and  with  the  boats  and  prisoners,  arrived  the  next  morning, 
saf(;,  (it  I'ort  Niagara. 

Then!)Ove  is  a  faithful  and  true  account  of  the  Heaver  Dam  aifair, 
as  it  is  also  of  the  conse(pien>;os  of  that  all'airso  fur  as  I  was  involved 
in  them.  It  may  wi  II  be  b(  lii.-ved  that  mv  mainnrv  was  so  much 
impressed  by  tlicin  as  to  enable  me,  I'ven  at  fhi?«  distance  of  time,  to 


re 

(■ 

a  I 

(I 

111 

si 


j:ird  two 

)riiicij);i! 

(Icf  were 

;ve  given 

)o;it  foLir 

I'  boiil  s 

ds  usioru 

c  started 

t'.iroiigh 

ig  up  the 

ackrider. 

ipercd  to 

Ic'ludo  our 

!\vh:it  sur- 

L.-red  them 

.)  lor  their 

loudly  or- 

tjrmucss  1 

but  to  do 

rs    that    i 

rtliilo  s(jnio 

Instead  of 

then,   fell 

ig  a  thrust 

II  b'jiiig  in 

noan  tune, 

\\hile  this 

10  guard  of 

d  the    men 

of  our  fleet 

t  their  oon- 

ial;(^  Onta- 

t  morning, 

Dam  affair, 

as  involved 

IS  so  much 

of  time,  to 


NOTliKH    01'     lllE    WAU. 


17 


be  particular  in  my  statement.  i»e.sid(  s,  the  facts  wcr';  all  notori- 
ous throuirliout  that  part  of  the  arjuv  and  eountrv,  and  numbers  are 
yet  living  who  witnes.s(;d  them. 

Seeing  that  (Icncral  Arnistruiig  proicssos  a  willingness  to  cor- 
n'ct  anv  mistaki-,  and  is  so  candid  as  to  adii;:t.  tin:  it  is  tin;  diitv  of 
an  hislorian  to  state  wh:U  he  knows  f;)  be  i"a(;!s,  however  lie  may 
have  codk;  by  Ids  L'iiow!t'(!i.;c,  I  taki'  (lie  liljcrty  of  .suggi.'.stinc;  to  him 
the  proju-icty  of  adopting  bomi;  ui'iisur.'  to  asceTlaia  ulrshcr  in  !i.(! 
course  of  the  last  w;n',  llio  Secretary  . -it  War  did  actually  i-.;ea'i  to  the 
iN'iagara  lines  and  t)-.W('go,  gims,  ai:d  b:;!;.;  unlit,  for  lh'>  c  i.i!  er  of 
such  guns^  auil  v.-hciIiiT  l:e  sent.  !u  Oswego  and  some  jdac-c!  I'arllter 
down,  balls  too  s!nall  iora.uv  pii.-ci'  ilicre?  and  wli'.'ti'.er,  on  .'eingiu- 
tormcd  of  hi-i  mislakr,  lio  ord'jnd  ;!i  ■  bi'i:"  ( ):vida  to  iro  to  t!.''  t  hioii- 
(laga  fiiriiaer  and  g  t  bails  of  t!;;'  piop.cr  -  i/.i's,  aia!  carry  il.em  t(j 
tiie  proper  places?  also,  wlftiicr  tlie  Oaoiidaga.  i\ini;'.("'  w:is;s!ua(ed 
ujion  or  near  any  navigable  waSea'!  i-'urt!i"r — wli;tliia'  he  did  actu- 
ally send  tent  poles  iVom  iJaliimore  and  l'liii.-!de![)b!a  to  l!idKalo?  flho 
country  round  wliirh,  at  liiat  lime,  v,-:;s  coM'STd  v/illi  liiuln'r  of  all 
sr/.cs.)  l'"ni-ti:"r,  wi'.i'leir,  wi;cn  our  ai'm,  v,  ;•  i  !yi!;g  !it  .'-'acla''t"s 
1  larb.ir,  lie  directed  ( ii  ni'ral  .r.rnuii  ii  give  e.-jiirj  that  \\v-  ai'iny 
would  m:ir''ii  lo  the  v.-est,  aU'!  attack  Ki!i";-ti.:i  lena  the  ne.'h  .-idc 
of  J^akc  Ontarii?  W  hedier  th-;  .■"•'. 'ci'tary  di-l,  ti/' viy  ii";  1  v.Tck, 
give  po~iti',c  orders  to  (i'l:  Tid  ilrnv/n  lo  iikjvo  il;c  army  In  I'm't 
iXiiigara?  aud  wliei!, t,  whi  n  in  j  u;,  aajie  ;  of  l'iv\"_-  o.'ders,  the 
Cleiieral  had  liim  ■cli'arrivc;!  at  I'.Uiiid.),  '.e  \\  •'  i.-ida  I -Her  iV  em  the 
Secretary,  iiunriuiug  idialli  :^  he  had  mivtak'n  lii  •  nr,!  t,  whicii  the 
Secretary  said,  w.e;  intaa!.  I  fir  a  ''ceaii  ('■•  main,''  liio'igli  he  had 
not  c\jii'e-sly  -ta1"d  il  lobe.-,),.'  W  li.'ilier  le  nn  th"-,  (!"ir  ;'al  I'rown 
riturn"d  to  Saektjlt'.i  Harbor?  and  wIk^iIi'V.  upeii  his  n  tin'i',  he  re- 
ceived fi-oiii  tlie'  S' e;e;;; i-y  at  \Var,  ai:olI:c/  n^''^'  to  reiuve  ;l,c 
army  to  the  Niagara  h'ror.tier?  and  whr'lr  r  by  ci-cier-;  and  eiamter- 
tu'der-j,  (i|'  tile  Sec  I'e  I  a  I'y,  I')  ( I"ii(  I  al  J  Iruw  11,  the  ai  ec'  iinii'a"  hi- ci'in- 
maiid,  w  a-^  (U'  was  net,  Ij  |;t  nrirehing  and  c'Ur.l  rmar-liing  ;i'e  oi* 
six  weeks  In  aiid  iV'iei  Osv,'  av»  and  the  .Niagara.  J'reu''  r,  lliereby 
keiit  ill  a  cmislant  state  nf  toil,  and  llaa■a^  •^(al  i  u'Vnud  ei'jii  ranee,  v/a.-^ 
the  cill'ot  of  "wanliiig  gooii  lailh  lo  the-  <  Invcriiment,  <n'  lieef  Isfiio- 
ranee-  of  the  SeerelaryT'  Al-  i,  whether  ihc  Seerelary  on'en.'d 
Cjieiieral  Wilkinson  to  goto  Tdontre'al  lale  in  ihe  fall  t'>  wiiiti  r,  |e-.v- 
iiig  Kingsloii,  l're-.coii,  andoevera!  smaller  places  behind  hinf?  ami 


I 


« 
18 


CUAl'lN  S    KEVILW    Of    AIIMSTRONU  a 


whtit  were  the  consequences  of  this  niovetnenl?     Was  there  not  a 
project  on  loot,  to  invade  Montreal,  the  elircelion  of  whicli,  was  as- 
Kiu-nL'd  to  (leneval  Wilkinson?     Did  not  he  and  his  oflicors  rcnion- 
stnile  against  it  and  give  as  a  reason,  the  Ibllowing,  that  the  cap- 
ture of  Kingston  would  secure  the  Upper  Province  and  Lakes?   VVhe- 
tlier  or  not  the  army  at   Kingston  was  not  iniprovidently  left,  too 
weak,  to  be  defended,  with  any  chance  of  success?   Whetlier  the 
enterprise,  of  carrying  King>;ton,  was  or  was  not  practicabk^,  whh 
the  force  and  supplies,  then  under  the  control  of  Wilkinson?   Whe- 
ther that  would  have  the  elfect,  intended  by  a  reduction  of  Montreal, 
by   securing   die  Upper  Province   and  Lakes.     On  the  contrary, 
could  you  be  ignorant  of  the  fact,  that  Montreal  had  no  fort,  that 
could  contain  our  troo|)s?     Did  you  not  know  that  the  enemy  could 
run  by  us,  al  night,  and  attack  us  in  the  rear?     Was  it  not  obvious, 
to  any  man  of  sense,  that  by  securing  Kingston,  our  army  might  be 
much  easier  supported,  by  rL'Uuiiuing  iii'arcr  home,  in  a  more  favora- 
iile  climate,  in  wlhch  case  tl)e  boats  and  supplies  could  proce(!d  down 
the  river  in  tlie  spring,  before  any  reinforcrments  could  arrive,  to 
aid  tile  enemy?      Were    not  your  orck'rs  just   the    reverse  of  what 
they  ought  to  have  been,  I)y  your  not  having  a  correct  knowledge  of 
the  country,  and  not  pursuing  the  safer  dictates  of  prudence  or  sound 
judgment,  whereby  a  CDUiplete  failure  was  the  consequence?    Was 
nut  another  of  your  favorite  plans,  an  ill-advised  measure,  by  send- 
ing ilani|)ton  through  tlie  woods  to  .Montreal,   in  conjunction  with 
Wilkinson,  two  men  as  perl'cclly  odious  to  each  other,  as  tlu'ir  skill 
could  render  them,   to   make  romplete  the  failun;  already   begun, 
thereby  finishing  tho  climax  ol"  disgrace,  in  that  camj)aign?     After 
having  appeariMJ  on  the  lines,   to  superintend  the  operations  of  his 
Fuhordiiiates,  and  to  aid  them  by  "the  counsels   of  iiis  will,*'  the 
Secretary  naurned  to  the  h'eatof  Government,  to  put  the  capitol,  and 
its  environs,  into  a   posture  of  difence,  impregnable  to  tlu;   IJritisii 
lion,  and  to  a(.!iic>(;  innnortal  renown,  b^-  the  wisdom  of  his  measures, 
and  the  prowess  of  liis  "own  right  arm.''     'J'Ik.'  note  of  preparation 
was  trilled  on  •  very  br(<e'/.('.     'J'lie  puhlio  stood  aghast  at  the  prospect 
of  two  powert'id  nations,  having  met  in  mortal  combat,     ivxpectation 
raised  to  tin;  highest  pitch.     The  IJrilish  legions  discimbnrking — moro 
than  dr)\iblo  the  fnrce  ni'Cessary  to  defenil  the  capitol,  orderetl  into 
thu  field  by  the  Secretary.      When  l<»!   and  behold,  at  tlie  first  onset 
by  the  JJrilish  troops,  iho  Secretory,  after  Imving  performed  soma 


NOTU-ES    OF    THK    WAR. 


19 


;re  not  a 
,  was  as- 
s  reinon- 

thc  cap- 
s?   VVhe- 

Icft,  too 
ether  the 
iblc,  with 
n?  Who- 
Monlrcal, 
contrary, 
i'urt,  that 
•my  could 
t  obvious, 

might  be 
re  la\  ora- 
.•ecd  down 
arrive,  to 
c  of  what 
)W lodge  of 
c  or  sound 
ICC?  Was 
,  by  Kcnd- 
etiuii  with 
their  skill 
ly  begun, 
n?  After 
ions  of  his 
will,-"'  the 
:i|iit()l,  and 
in  liritisii 
measures, 
reparation 
0  prospect 
\pectation 
ng — nioro 
lered  into 
first  onset 
mod  sonio 


antic  Jlourislies,  gav<j  back,  leaving  tlie  brunt  to  Commodore  Barney, 
who  repulsed  the  assailants  a  number  of  times,  while  the  doughty 
Secretary,  found  security  in  flight,  leaving  his  ofliccrs  and  men  to 
hew  their  road  to  glory,  as  bo^t  they  could.  At  this  critical  junc- 
ture, giving  porempiory  orders  to  General  Winder  to  retreat,  with 
his  men,  while  the  bravo  Coinmodore  was  loi't  unaided  by  the  Secre- 
tary or  any  competent  foi'cc.  The  enemy  lollowed  up  the  retreat, 
until  arriving  at  the  turiipike  gate,  they  were  visited  by  the  old  lady 
that  kept  the  toll-gate,  and  were  refused  a  passage,  until  the  loll 
should  be  paid,  which  delay  enabled  the  Secretary,  by  the  light  of 
the  capitol,  (c  make  good  his  escape.  Is  not  tlio  eminence  on  wiiich 
stands  the  Capitol  of  the  United  States,  suflieiently  elevated,  to  have 
been  successfully  defended,  by  one  eighth  of  the  ibrce  the  Secretary 
then  had  under  his  immediate  control^  Was  not  the  President's 
house  in  a  position  to  have  been  defended  with  a  small  portion  of  the 
f(n'ce,  then  at  the  disposition  of  the  Secretary'?  Why  were  those 
advantages  neglected?  and  why  did  the  Secretary  leave  the  same 
abandoned,  to  a  hostile  foe?  Wna  it  for  "the  want  of  good  fnith  to 
the  Government,  or  the  cllect  of  ignorance  and  cowardice?" 


TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  UMTED  STATES, 

Anil  pnriinifiirhj  /<>  the  Ojii\rs  and  mm  rugat^td  diirintr  the.  lati' 
\V<u-,  upon  the.  Niairurn  Frnnticr. 


In  consequence  of  a  most  miexpeeted,  ridiculous,  and  libellous 
publication,  relxlive  to  your  conduct  and  characters,  as  men  and  f\9. 
olllcers,  and  particularly  to  myself,  which  has  been  brought  forth  by 
John  Armslroufi,  I  feel  myself  obligated  to  call  your  attention  Jo  it, 
and  publicly  to  mak(^  an  exhibit  of  such  facts  within  my  knowledge, 
as  well  as  that  of  many  others,  as  may  tend  to  correct  and  to  place 
in  their  proper  light,  some  at  least  of  the  many  false,  degrading  and 
ridiruloiis  .stat"ments  of  this  professed  historian. 


;i 


20 


CIlAl'IX  S    UKVrKW     OR     AHMSVUONCi  S 


1 


4      » 


1  ! 


Wliy,  \vc  all  ask,  sliniild  this  Joliii  AniislroiiL';,  now,  at  tliis  Iaf<^ 
day,  give  publicity  to  such  stivd-'ir/'iUs,  cvci)  irilinywrro  true?  Mo 
says  at  pago  lOvI,  of  his  "Jlistnrical  Xoliccs  of  the  AVar  of  1S12,'' 
that  "JJaMvllor'is  (!otaii;'(l  account  of  liis  niisi'orluiics,  lias  ticvcr,  so 
far  as  ire  kuo'.v,  been  given  lo  tlio  public.  It  is  perhaps  due  to  his 
memory,  tli;it  it  kIiouIiI  voir  bo  published:  tlie  readin-  will  lind  it  in 
tlie  Appendix,  Ni>.  '2-!.      I'ce  p^'.g '  -"lO  of  his  Apjieiidix,  vol.  1. 

Again,  in  his  lelter  lo  lue,  and  v>-hi:di  f  had  lii:'  hor.or  In  receive 
fre.iii  ]ii:ii,  a  f\v  daws  sinci\  d;ited  "llcil  I  look,  'J.'^.il  May,  18o(i:" — 
"TiiC'  narrafiviMif  tiio  Ia(  '  ColoUid  iuerstier  was  inlended  as  a  do- 
fence  ar~■a!l!^t  c(n'l:n'n  si;i;er.)ents,  lo  ]ic  foiuid  in  (  IdUM'al  Dearborn's 
olTiciai  letter  in  relation  to  iho  Ujifortiinat."  ex[)"(iiti.in  niado  to  the 
l)ea\c'r  Hams,  in  the  ca.iiju-iign  vi'  181o — v,l;icli  the  \\-riter  believed 
to  liave  bi'eii  derive'.!  I'.miu  y  /u!  TIk;  ii:;ri-aliv(  ,  v\  Ikmi  received  at 
liie  v.'ar  oiiic'N  w  ;is  areeinpanied  b\"  a  reipiest  that  il  should  be  pub- 
lished ill  llie  rsali'ii:;il  i!iteii,'g'!a'i'i',  i:;;!,''.mu(di  as  the  Cieiieral  liad 
oniitt(  .!  lo  s.'iid  his  (t'e-ioiiel  .!!(ei'sl!er";-')  re[!ort  of  the  expedition, 
wlu'cli  ought  to  lia\e  ;:cc()i!ipani; d  tlie  (leiievars  staleineiit,  which 
was  puliiished  in  tiiat  journal.  Aotwitlistanding  the  I'oree  and  plain- 
ness of  this  appeal,  lb''  reipiest  Mas  i:(:|  granted,  from  a  belief  that 
under  e.xi-.iiiig  eiieumsiaiices,  ll.e  pubiic;;! ien  (jI' the  nai'rative  was 
not  Hl'eiy  111  i!>i  gooil:  and  b'-"  ]<i.'ep.'iig  U[)  old  (piarrels,  or  generating 
Ui.'W  niie'^.  i,iiii;lil  (lo  iKsrm." 

( !  ::inl!:.i;.:  il.o  ficis  liial  siieii  a  narrativi  was  written — sent  to  llir- 
war  .'  I'lee,  w  ir'i  ku.'Ii  a  ve  im  .■■t,  and  ihe  publieatinii  at  tlu;  time,  and 
for  ill  •  rere.ous  gi\''ii  'ey  .luhn  A  rm.-trong.  v.  ;is  nut  niaile  or  piM'mitt(Ml, 
bv  ihe  ol'.'icers  ol' til  '  i!epai'l;iieiii — all  of  whii-h  may  be  doidited;  but 
1  a'  I  at  pre:'e;it  wii'ing  lo  admit  the  mo,," — we  le.ay  well  and  eoufi- 
d  r.tlv  a:-k — \th"th  r  st;  ■!;  eiremii>lai;ee.-,  have  pa^-'-d  aw  ay,  or  have 
so  allei'.  li  ;;s  lo  lep,;  '  r  t '.  o  ,!'  e\  il-',  lliea  a  111  ieip.Mled.  le-^s  pi'obalile,  less 
af^iieliiig,  ';!•  If  ^'s  degrading  li  ilm-"  wMio"  cliaraeters  as  men  anil  as 
cili/Mi  I  dicers,  Viere  implicahd,  lib^ili  il,  an  1  atU'mpted  to  be  dis- 
gr.'icd  and  il-gr;ideil; 

Iber-lli  :•  is  dead — peMi'"  1')  hi--  niaiies — whv  di-fiirb  the  a-.hes  or 
til"  cli.'irael"!'-;  of  ih  •  o  ,iif  .loliii  .\rm>lroiig.  prolnbly.  as  well  as 
llioi;-,iiub.  ol"  lithe;-;,  A  luei  iea  li-',  iiiav  lia\'e  re, el  or  heard  in  the  his- 
liti  il -.  of  the  lviiro[)ean  Moinrch^e,,,  ni' povihinnini .,  fori'iatures,  and 
aKaindev.-,  I'ot  of  property  only,  but  of  lilies;  and  fdiarar-ters.  Ibit 
where.  I  ask,  is  ihi  re  an  Aiuericanciii/eii,  an  oiiicer  or  soldior,  \\  ho 


KOTICEH    OK    THE    \\\\\. 


21 


was  cngiigcdin  tliat  war,  iipna  tlic  Ningaru  Froiitier,  ulio  would  not. 
view  with  (Intcstiition  find  nl)iii)ri('i',c.",  mid  mIid  wmdd  not  at  on(;o 
lift  iiis  luind,  and  if  nnccysai'} ,  oppose  by  forr( ,  tlif  olficcr  or  tlir 
man,  wiio  siiould  jironose  or  iittcnij)!  t!i(!  intri'diiclion  of  .such  laws, 
usar^cs  or  proceedings,  in  these  United  States? — There  is  not  one! 

Were  ll;e  statenionis  niaiie  i)y  Mr.  Armstrong  in  his  "notices  of 
tlie  war,'*  rele\'ant  to  iiir — lo  inn  C(u;ih:cl  <iiul  rlianni  '' "M-V,  [should 
at  one'  have  called  hint  to  ae>"  'int  to  nie  personally,  and  lo  me  oidv. 
They  are  not.  'i'hey  aic  i.f  that  character  which  demands  th(>  at- 
tention of  the  paulie — 'if  all  our  citi/ens,  and  more  [larticularlv  id* 
those  (yUleers  now  li\ing,  and  the  lends  of  those  wiio  are  not,  with 
whose  Jiamrs  and  eonrluet  he  has  conneeled  occurrences,  and  men- 
tioned transactions  ;ind  nauH  s,  in  such  a  manner,  and  in  such  lan- 
guage, as  to  r(  ndcr  either  their  characters  ridi(  ulons,  or  nnworlliy 
of  resjiect,  c<mlid"nce,  or  trust,  or  otherwise,  his  own  infamous. 

The  I'ollowing  extracts  I'roni  his  "Notices,*-*  are  si'ecinicns  of  hi:>« 
languag  •,  respecting  some  men  who  wen;  good  olTieers,  and  wlio 
W(dl  and  futhfully  did  their  duty  to  tlieir  country.  They  will  show 
abundantly,  wilhout  rr  ference  to  others,  the  asperity,  if  not  tlv  nns- 
anthnyy  of  his  feelings,  ur  of  the  nio.-,i  profound  ignorance  of  the 
0(  nrrences  of  whiidi  lie  now  professes  to  he  the  candid  and  W(dl- 
informeil  historian. 

I'age  11(1  of  "Notices  of  the  War  of  lSl-2:-*'— "/?<  wr^rZ/.s.— The 
(MM'iu's  whi(  li  signalize  the  close  of  this  campaign  in  the  north,  arc 
numerous  ami  striking.  'I'hose  of  l)i-AuiioUN  and  S.mytu  appear  to 
liave  been  the  result  of  constihitional  d  j'<(i.;,  htirrciiii  v.v,  or  iiKirliri/jf 
oi'  >:n'!ifl  in  the  oni',  and  infirniily  of  purposr  in  the  oiIht;  while  those; 
of  \  .\\  IIknshki.akk  were  {jbvious  \)y siiii (^I'igiiornncc — thcollspring 
of  tiiat  di'lieient  knowledg:!  whi(di  every  man  nuist  fe(d,  who  for  tin? 
first  time,  and  wilhont  any  previous  instructions,  finds  himself  at  tlio 
heail  of  an  army,  and  on  the  eve  of  a  battle.  Of  the  former,  any 
new  illustration  would  be  unnecessary,  as  they  have  been  already 
snilieicntly  indicated;  while;  of  the  ialt(U',  a  spt'cial  but  brii'f  notice 
ma  V  lie  u-<efid."* 

I'.igr;  'tU. — '^ liiiiKirls. — Of  the  many  errors  win'cli  signaliz"  this 
ONpedilion,  the  first  in  date,  as  well  as  in  (diaracter,  was  llio  plan  of 
tJK'  campaign  siigge.sN  d  by  the  Oovernment  and  |inrsued  by  the 
(jonerid,  and  w  iiitdi  ditli-red  but  little  I'roni  that  j)rescril)i'(l  to  Hull, 
witli  respect  to  route,  object  und  means.*' 


?  I   ( 


23 


(  IIAriN  S    KEVIEW    OF    ARMSTRONG  S 


I       ~  li    ♦. 


m 


i' 


I  1'' 


Pago  KiO. — Suggcsiloii  Alh. — Tlic  next  blunder  in  this  Comedy  of 
Errors,  must  bo  ascribed  to  Burns,  on  whom  the  commtmd  of  tho 
army  had  devolved,  in  consoqiionce  of  tlie  capture  of  Cliandier  and 
Winder." 

Page  iGl. — "5th. — Puitlilth^  more  niismai;agenicnt  was  now  want- 
ing to  make  tlic  campaign  of  ISl-'J  as  much  a  subject  of  ridicule  at 
home,  and  contempt  abroad,  as  that  of  the  preceding  year.  Nor  had 
we  long  to  wait  for  such  instances  of  misconduct  as  could  not  fail  to 
produce  this  chgradiug  cjj'cct.  On  the  Gth  of  June — the  day  on 
which  Burns  wnafi/ing  when  7ioiie  2}ursucd,  an  order  was  received 
from  the  Cemmander-in-Chiei',  recalling,  without  loss  of  lime,  tho 
whole  army  to  Fort  George — virtual'y  a'Dandoning  ail  llic  objects  of 
tho  campaign.  Nor  Avas  even  this  ill-judged  movement  executed 
without  a  disorder  which  entailed  upon  it  the  loss  of  the  twelve  boats, 
principally  laden  with  tho  baggage  of  the  army.''  "These  events 
were  soon  known  and  justly  appreciated  by  the  British  Com- 
mander, &c.'' 

It  surely  is  not  my  intention  to  give  greater  publicity  lo  the  lato 
labors  of  John  Armstrong,  or  to  spend  more  words  in  calling  your 
attention  to  the  ridiculous  and  disgraceful  conduct  of  himself  and  of 
some  other  would-bc-great-mon,  than  may  be  necessary  to  a  full  and 
correct  understanding  of  the  whole  matter.  It  may  require  several 
extracts  from  his  "Notices  of  the  War  of  ISlfi,"'  in  order  to  under- 
stand and  fully  to  appreciate  his  conduct  and  cliaracter.  The  same 
remark  is  applicable  to  some  others,  whose  names  and  characters 
were  subjects  of  notoriety  during  the  war,  and  of  whom  he  has  spo- 
ken f  ^quently  and  familiarly. 

The  well-known  Van  Rensselaers  are  abundantly  able,  and  well 
qualified,  and  from  lato  appearances,  willing,  not  only  to  defend 
themselves  and  their  own  characters  from  the  libels  of  John  Arm- 
strong, but  to  have  their  conduct  placed  properly  and  truly  before 
the  people  and  their  posterity.  Mis  allegations  "of  the  sins  of  igno- 
rance— the  ofisprmg  of  that  deficient  knowlerlge,*''  &c.,  will  doubt- 
less be  by  their  notice  regarded,  so  far  as  the  author  is  concerned, 
with  the  real  contempt  and  derision  they  so  richly  merit. 

In  his  letter  to  me  of  the  22d  of  May  last,  which  I  have  before 
mentioned,  this  John  Armstrong  threatens  me  with  an  expose  of 
General  McClurc's  communication  to  tho  War  Department,  of  the 
Snth  October,  1813.     Of  such  a  communication  1  had  heard  some- 


ii  ^ 


ncdy  of 

I  of  the 

Her  and 

IV  -wrint- 

iculo  nt. 

NOTICES    OF    TUK    WAR. 


2:3 


tiling — nothing  (!^'fiiiite;  but  having  never  been  ubie  to  llntl  it,  after 
groat  exertions,  and  knowing  the  cliaracter  of  the  man,  I  had  long 
:>ince  abandoned  the  subject,  considering  any  defenec  useless  and  un- 
necessary, coming  as  the  conrimunicatiou  did,  from  sucli  a  source, 
so  polluted  with  envy,  malice  and  proverbial  cowardice.  This  man 
did  nothing  in  the  cor  "so  of  the  war,  as  an  uflicer,  except  what  tend- 
ed to  degrade  or  destroy  his  own  character,  and  to  disgrace  the 
army,  the  government,  and  indeed  the  nation. 

After  Gen.  Wilkinson  left  the  frontier  army.  Colonel  Scott  had 
command  of  the  Fort  with  five  hundi'cd  men.  To  him,  with  w  hom, 
and  under  wliose  orders  I  served,  1  can  with  confidence,  and,  if  ne- 
cessary shall,  appoiil  for  full  evidence  of  my  cliaracter  as  an  uflicer, 
and  of  my  conduct  to  and  with  the  enemy,  and  also  our  own  men. 
A.t  present,  I  will  state  one  transaction  in  v,-hic!i  I  was  iiersonally 
engaged,  of  the  truth  of  whi<;h,  Gi'iieral  i^cott  was  cognizant,  and  to 
which  he  will  at  any  time  bear  evidence. 

While  in  the  possession  and  commaiul  of  the  Fort,  Colonel  Scott 
directed  me  to  do  all  tliat  I  could  to  annoy  the  enemy,  at  every  point. 
They  were  then  fmr  mil(\s  iVoin  the  Fort,  and  cnmmanded  by 
Generals  Vincent  and  l)e  llotteuburg.  Our  :.-.itnatiou  being  deemed 
critical,  I,  with  my  three  hundred  meii,  left  the  Fort,  early  in  the 
day — altickcd  the  enemy,  drove  in  their  pickets — beat  their  whole 
force  u[)  to  their  quarters,  and  then  returned  with  a  large  number  of 
prisoners — more  prisoners  than  T  had  men  with  me.  Soon  after, 
the  enemy  followed  mo  into  town.  It  was  then  propos;;d  by  Colonel 
Scott  to  open  the  Batteries  of  the  Fort  upon  them.  'i'<i  this  I  ob- 
jected. The  Fort  not  being  tenable,  as  a  short  time  before,  we  had 
commenced  enlarging  it,  and  a  number  of  passes  were  loft  open, 
without  breast  works  or  other  impediments  to  oppose  the  approach 
or  repel  the  attack  of  the  (.-nemy;  and,  therefore,  advised  to  attack 
them  upon  th(;ir  own  ground,  and  outside  of  the  Fort. 

Thereupon,  agreeably  to  Colonel  Scott's  directions,  I  led  out 
seventy  men,  attacked  the  enemy  ia  the  rear  part  of  the  town,  and 
drove  him  back;  we  were  engaged  till  dark.  I  then  returned  with 
about  thi'oe  lj^nj^r(;(l  prisoners  to  the  Fort.  This  was,  at  the  time, 
known  and  spoken  of  as  a  prompt  movement,  and  a  most  brilliant 
a  flair. 

An  account  of  this  operation,  is  said  to  have  been  published  by 
General  McClure,  as  a  work  of  his  own,  and  that  credit  is  given  by 


'Jl 


(  1IA1Mn'«    IIEVIEW    OF    AUMBTROXCi's 


Iiiui  to  several  of  liis  onicers,  lor  the  gallantry  and  ellicit'iic}'  of  their 
attack  and  n'nnlse  ul'  the  enemy,  ihit  unrnrtunately  luv  hiniiK'lf, 
and  tliuso  ollicers,  and  their  I'anio  and  credit  to  be  eniblaz(jned  by 
iliis  historian,  Jtshn  Armstrong,  General  .AlcClurc  and  lii.s  ollicers 
were  uol  at  ,'.hal  time  in  Canada — they  were  on  tiie  other  side  of 
the  river! 

y(ii>n  after  tlii.s  rv'pulse  and  defeat  ol"  tlu;  JJritish  army,  (jeneral 
?tlc(.'!ure  erossed  tin-  river  to  the  Fort,  and  ass'uiied  the  eommand. 
lie  ordi;red  Coloiud  Seott  to  leave  the  l'\n't  with  a  det;irhmeiit  of  men, 
and  attack  the  enemy  in  hi.s  encampment,  i.-e  declined,  for  good 
reasons.  McChire  then  ordered  me,  with  Colonels  i;o!iliii:s  and  Hop- 
kins, and  their  ri'giments,  to  fdlow  tlie  enemy;  we  arrived  at  th'.dr 
!)reastWv)rk,v  but  e\i)'>cliiig,  from  a[)r,earai!ces,  thai,  we  were  to  be 
drawn  into  amb'.nl!,  1  teidv  a  small  detachment,  and  a'lvaneed  upon 
their  intrenehments.  Thev  lirt'd  upon  ns,  an;l  at  once  retreated  to 
their  main  Ijudy,  ;it  tli"  'i'welve  .Mile  (."rt^ek,  asid  C'limiels  Dnhbins 
and  Hopkins,  witli  tln'ir  j'cgiments,  liad  relnrnt.'d  to  the  Fort.  1 
then  sent  back  C'aplain  Sackrider,  to  'leneral  McClure,  reciuesting 
hnn  to  send  r.ie  one  hnndred  men,  with  wlioye  assistance  and  co-ope- 
ratluii,  we  shimld  be  a!jle  to  lalvc,  iii-^[)rrse  or  d;'stroy  t'ae  enemy. 
Tlu.'  (ieneral  detaiiicd  Sa(d<ri(;er.  i  [e,  Wvll  knowing  the  importance 
of  this  messa<jfe  to  the  (Ii'neral,  and  of  ouv  criiieal  sitnation  wIkm'o 
we  w(;re,  soon  escaped  and,  cariu.'  to  me.  I  t!;en,  witli  what  ibrcc 
we  h.ad,  went  in  pnrsnit  of  the  enemy;  tliey  were-  retreating,  and 
had  set  lire  to  all  the  properly — among  wii'cii  wa.;  a  larg;.'  ([uantity 
of  flour,  at  that  'ieu^,  very  \aluabi",  and  i.i  great  d>,mand,  together 
with  a  large  amonnl  (jf  goods,  to  pr;;vent  their  falling  into  oer  hands. 
1  innnediately  ordered  the  lirrs  to  be'  e,\tiiigii;Nhed,  and  the-reby  sav<'d 
th(>  properlv  not  alri'ady  (K.'stroved,  lor  the  use  of  the  Can;idians,  or 
for  oil  I  soldiers  or  cilix/ms. 

We  then  followed  the  ene'iny  in  tlrir  retreat,  to  the  Tweiiiy  iMilc 
Creed; — thern  again  attackeil  ihem;  ihry  ded  rapidly,  and  in  utter 
confusion.  'Jdiere  were'  tli'ii  with  ine  but  few  men,  hut  they  did 
their  duty,  ^\'e  took  a  iunnl)''r  of  prisoners,  and  I  sent  them  back 
to  the  hurt.  While  en<;a''i'd  in  this  pursuit  of  the  enemv,  1  ri'cei\ed 
orders  by  express,  from  (Ieneral  .McClure,  to  return  to  him  at  tho 
Twelve  .Mile  Creek.  I  oIjcmiI,  and  retuiand  to  him,  i:iadi:  a  full 
report.  Toni}-  utter  surprise,  the  (Ieneral  ap|)eared  mucdi  pleased 
and  gratified.     He  then  auid,  "Til  now  make  a  dash  at  the  enemy,"'' 


of  their 

liiinself, 

'.oiK  d  by 

ollic(n-.s 

.-jiclu  of 


NOTICEIG  OK    THt    WAH.  liu 

'■■I'll  mako  ;i  dash  al  thoni.''  [  loft  him  in  this  humor.  About  dark 
he  canio  to  ine  luid  sai(i — "will  they  r.ot  get  around  us — eut  oil' our 
retreat,  take  us,"  d'C.  I  loft  him  and  went  to  sleep,  then  '  '"ig,  with 
all  my  men,  greatly  I'atigued.  He  aoon  uwoico  ino,  and  OL.ored  me 
to  go  out  and  reconnoitre.  I  objected;  totaled  that  I  was  latigued, 
and  that  he  must  send  a  Lieutenant,  or  .some  other  ollieor.  He  in- 
sisted that  1  shoidd  go — that  ho  would  turnish  me  men,  and  I  "rnutit 
immediately  mako  a  dash  al  thrm."  lie  gave  nic  !ico  men  on?:;;  v/ilh 
them  I  went  n,  took  one  of  the  sentinels  and  sent  him,  with  one  of 
my  two  men,  to  Clcneral  ]\IeChire.  We  then  went  on  to  a  liousc, 
oijtaincd  aU  the  information  I  coidd — returned  safely  to  hi.tn,  and 
upon  his  inquiry  I  referred  him  to  tin;  eontinel  then  in  his  custody, 
for  infji'uiation.  Ho  then  ordered  mc  on  tlio  advance  guard.  "When 
wo  had  proceeded  about  five  nnles,  ho  again  asked  mo  if  tho  enemy 
might  not  bo  yet  behind  us,  and  told  me — "  You  and  your  men  iri/l 
go  on.  Just  before  our  arrival  at  tho  Twenty  Mile  Creek,  wc  heard 
a  firing  in  our  rear.  Supposing  thi?  enemy  was  then  engaged  witli 
tho  General  and  the  men,  we  immediately  returned,  and  found  our 
people  shooting  the  cows,  shocp,  ducks  and  poultry  of  the  Canadian 
farmers.  This  scene  of  now  fashion  v,'arI\\ro,  was  by  us  all  viewed 
Vi'ith  surprise  and  indignation.  I  personally  made  every  exertion  in 
my  power  to  stay  the  carnage  of  the  brute  creation — representing  "o 
our  men  tliat  wo  were  there  to  fight  the  enemy — the  British  soldiers 
and  officers — not  to  kill  their  beaL^ts  nor  to  waste  or  destroy  the  pro- 
perty of  the  inhabitants  and  farmer;-i.  (.Ten(;ral  I'.  Ij.  Porter  wa.s  in 
tho  rear  of  Ucneral  j\IcCUui'e,  and  his  V(;teraii  Boldiers.  iie  romijii- 
stratcd — deprecated  the  murder  of  tiio  brutes,  n.n*l  uilmr.itely,  t!i(> 
oarnago  was  stayed.  Tlio  women  caiiio  amongst  us,  and  to  tiieir 
prayers,  rising  of  three  hundred  cows  were  yie'ded  up  to  ihem. 

[:i  cur  priigiv.'S,  we  (!i:;eo\'ered  a  private  ]inii;(!  \:\  llaiu';^;  il.  \-is 
[iUndy's  house,  liis  Avife  was  there,  pri:yii.g  fiud  be,-;eechi'ig  lirat  t'.^o 
house  and  property  might !  e  spared. 

\u  our  pi-(!gress  toward.-j  CLij)njwa,  wo  s.iw  CJo'ierrd  rJcCLire 
coining  from  Fors)  IITs,  v.  iih  a  boltlo  of  jiipior  unoi.'r  each  of  tiis 
arms.  At  Chippew;i,  i  found  the  family  of  Mr.  Alacklem  sick,  and 
•it  his  re(picst,  I  advi:jed  with  th:'Ui  as  their  physioiuii.  From  tliat 
place,  I  wrote  back  to  Colonel  .Scoit,  by  Mr.  >:;'aekrider,  on  tl;o  irab- 
jcct  of  ciirryiiig  the  private  properly  of  flic  C'uuadiaii  ci'.izen?  across 

■I 


20 


CHAFIN  S    UKVIF.W    OF    AUMHTUONn  S 


tiie  nvui  an  plunder.  IIo  immediately  stopped  the  boats,  and  the 
transmission  of  the  property. 

On  my  return  from  Chippewa  to  the  Fort,  I  Ibuud  General  Mc- 
Clurc  and  some  of  our  people,  at  Queenston,  firing  cannons  and  re- 
joicing I'or  McClure'.s  victory.  I  did  not  stay  with  them  to  rejoice, 
but  proceeded  to  the  Fort.  Soon  after,  he  returned  to  the  Ft)rt  als^o; 
and  there,  in  the  presence  of  Colonel  Scott,  ho  inquired  of  rne  why  I 
had  not  waited  at  the  rejoicing  at  Queenston?  I  rejdicd  to  liim  tiiat 
it  was  then  the  anniversary  of  our  defeat  at  (iueenston — tliat  noth- 
ing new  had  transpired  to  my  knowledge  to  require  or  excite  re- 
joicing. That  ravaging  the  country,  biir.Ting  houses,  shooting  the 
cattle  and  poultry  of  the  enemy,  was'  not  a  matter  of  rejoicing — and 
that,  these  were  all  ho  had  elFcctcd  by  liis  dash  at  the  enemy.  j\i  the 
intercession  and  request  of  Scott,  I  said  no  more  to  McCluro  at  the 
time — went  to  tho  place  where  the  cows  and  cattle  wore  kept,  cut  the 
ropes  with  which  they  were  secured,  and  had  them  driven  back  into 
the  country,  and  the  owners  obtained  them. 

As  to  all  these  statements  and  facts,  there  are  now  living  and  credi- 
ble witnesses,  and  their  testimony  will  be  procured  and  pubiishod  or 
used  in  case  circumstances  require  it.  One  word  more  at  this  time 
relative  to  General  i\IeClure.  Some  years  since  he  was  in  this  city, 
at  the  i^agle  Tavern;  I  saw  him  and  distinctly  accused  him  of  ?«/.y-- 
rrprcsvnthig  me,  my  character  andir.v  'ondnci  dur in <:  the  war.  lie, 
vonr  man,  then,  in  the  presence  of  one  or  more  gooil  citizens,  stated 
and  conRiSsed  that  at  Ihaf  time  he  was  crazy,  that  ho  did  not  know 
what  did  then  take  place,  and  that  ho  had  now  just  lo.'-t  a  son,  vS/c.  O-Jc. 
Upon  such  confessions  and  his  late  severe  ailliction,  I  abandoned  the 
subject  and  left  him  lo  his  om)  rrfir.clions. 

In  order  to  a  full  understanding  of  the  facts,  and  a  duo  apprecia- 
tion of  their  importance,  I  deem  it  necessary  to  incorporate  with 
them  the  following  extracts  from  John  Armstrong's  "Notices  of  the 
War,"  c^c. 

They  are  talicn  from  tho  statement  published  by  him  as  the  work 
<n"  Lieut.  Col.  15(r;rstler.  This  "Narrative'*'  never  having  been  pub- 
lished by  13(ers1k;r,  nor  permitted  by  the  War  Department  ur  the 
Government,  to  see  tin!  light,  it  must  now  be  regarded  as  the  work 
uf  John  Armstrong.  Ifc  is  answerable  for  the  truth  or  falsehood 
contained  in  it,  so  far  as  they  may  allect  the  conduct  or  the  charac- 
ter of  others;,  ur  the  hii^torv  of  the  war  as  such.     lie  lias  assumed 


1  {       |! 


»'J 


i 


NOTICES    OI'    THK    WAIL. 


Li  )i 


^,  ai)(l  thh 

no  nil  Me- 
ns and  re- 
f(j  rejoice, 
I'ort  also; 
int)  why  I 
I  lum  that 
Uiut  noth- 
cxcitc  ro- 
looting  tho 
and 
y.     At  the 
iir(!  nt  the 
'pt,  cut  the 
1  b.'ick  into 

f  andcredi- 
iibiished  (IV 
it  this  time 
n  this  city, 
lim  of  7ni,s- 
W(ir.  lie, 
ens,  stated 
I  not  knov/ 
n,  tic.  O'jc. 
ndoncd  the 

I  apprecia- 
oratc  with 
icos  of  tliu 

s  tiio  worlc 
been  pub- 
ent  or  tho 
J  tlio  work 
falsehood 
lie  charac- 
•6  asiiiuncd 


to  bo  and  appears  ns  the  sponsor  or  god-fathor  of  BaTstlcr's  "Nui 
rative." 

First,  however,  as  to  I\Ir.  Armstrong's  remarks  upon  the  conduct 
of  IJurns.  At  i)age  ItiO,  he  states,  "When  at  ilay  break  this  ollicer 
was  called  to  exercise  his  new  functions,  lie  found,  as  he  tells  us  in 
his  official  reports,  that  "all  the  views  of  the  enemy  have  been  com- 
pletely frustrated — himself  obliged  to  ily,  leaving  tho  field  of  battle 
covered  with  his  dead  and  wounded,  and  more  than  forty  men,  princi- 
pally of  the  lUth,  made  prisoners." 

"While,  on  the  other  hand,  the  troops  of  the  United  States  had  suf- 
fered little  loss,  were  in  perfect  order,  and  entirely  in  condition,  had 
not  both  Generals  been  taken,  to  have  pressed  Vincent  to  a  second 
combat,  tho  issue  of  wdiich  would  not  have  been  doubtful.  Yet,  in 
s[)ite  of  all  these  discoveries,  our  modest  cavalier,  (from  sheer  difii- 
dcnce  in  hia  own  capacity  to  direct  infantry  movements,)  refused  to 
avail  himself  of  the  advantages,  he  possessed,  and  instead  of  longer 
pursuing  the  objects  of  the  expedition,  turned  his  back  at  once  on 
Vincnit  and  Victori/,  and  hastily  returned  to  Forty  Mile  Creek. 
Thus,  practically  contradicting  his  own  ollicial  statements,  and  giv- 
ing to  the  affair  of  Stony  Creek,  tho  new  and  unmerrited  character  of 
a  positive  delcat  on  our  part."  This  affair  Mr.  Armstrong  in  the 
same  page,  (iOO,)  calls  this  "4tli,  the  next  blunder  in  this  Comedy 
of  Errors,''  <kc. 

At  page  150,  ho  says — "5th.  But  little  moro  mismanagement  was 
now  wanting  to  mako  the  campaign  of  1813  as  much  a  subject  of  ri- 
dicule at  homo,  and  contempt  abroad,  as  that  of  tho  preceding  year. 
Nor  h"'i  wo  long  to  wait  for  such  new  instances  of  misconduct,  as 
could  not  fail  to  produce  this  degrading  eliect.  On  tho  Gth  of  June, 
the  day  on  which  Burns  was  Hying  when  none  pursued,  an  order 
■was  received  from  the  Commander-in-Chief,  re-calling  without  loss 
of  time,  the  whole  army  to  Fort  Ceorgi,',  and  virtually  abandoning 
nil  tho  objects  of  the  campaign.  Nor  was  even  this  ill-judged  move- 
ment executed  without  a  disorder  which  entailed  uiion  it  the  loss  oi' 
"twelve  boats,  principally  laden  with  the  baggage  ol'  ilv)  army. 
'I'hcse  events  wore  soon  known  and  justly  appreciated  by  the  Brit- 
ish Commanders,  who,  advancing  as  we  retreated,  was  willing  on  the 
■iUthof  the  month,  to  hazard  the  c/ilc  of  his  army,  (about  live  liun 
drod  commandants,)  wiihiu  stroke  of  his  adversary."' 


2S 


CIIAIMn'h    KEVIEW    Uv'    AllMSTIlONo'ti 


^i" 


1 1 
i 


h 


l 


r 


i\igo  Kit!.  "Every  just  view  ol*  the  circiiiiistnncc  indicated  tlio  wis- 
dom of  imniodiatoly  assniling  iliis  corps;  llio  capture  or  destruction 
if  which  would  liavo  cflcctually  dcfoatod  the  ])rcscnt  views  of  future 
operation;;  of  ^'hlcent.  luit,  unfortunately,  though  the  Cu.-noral 
adopted  this  opinion,  ho  altogether  failed,  as  in  otiier  cases  ia  the 
cmploynr.nt  of  means  proper  for  giving  to  t!ic  c\-[)rri;i!onL  a  liUcce.ss- 
ful  issue.  Instead  of  pi  icing,  as  lie  ought  to  hruo  donr,  Scort  and 
Miller  at  the  head,  one  thousand  five  hundred  men  eacdi,  aud  moving 
them  hy  a  night  march,  and  the  shortest  route,  on  Do  Coos'  statiot;, 
he  dcspatcb.cd  Barstler  (an  qijiccr  not  distln;^uislicd  hij  (in;/  prior  i'fr- 
r'lcc,)  with  fivo  liundtod  and  forty  cfli.'ctivos  only,  by  the  (iueenston 
read,  in  open  day,  -without  reserve  o.'  demonstration  of  any  kind, 
cidier  to  sustain  the  attack,  or  cover  the  retreat.'' 

Hero  we  have  John  Armstrong's  veracious  statement  of  tl;o  con- 
duct of  a  General,  and  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Rnnrstlor.  Of  the  first, 
notlting  at  present  need  be  remarked. 

Whatever  may  have  been  Bfurstler's  reputation  for  veracity,  or 
fjr  military  prowess,  this  Iiistorian  here  assumes  and  takes  the  re- 
sponsibility to  pul)lish  as  truth,  his  detailed  account  of  his  juisfortune 
ia  this  affair.     lie  commences  at  page  250,  his  account,  as  follows: 

"On  JiMO  23d,  1813,  sol  dissani — Major  Chapin  called  at  the  tent 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  IlcErstler,  on  flic  plains  of  Newark,  tnlkrd 
larg'hj  about  /lar/ug  scoured  all  ilic  country  v'ilh  his  forlii follow- 
ers: tluit  he  had  beca  to  Reaver  Dam,  &c.  v5cc.  Licutcnant-BnTst- 
ler  knowing  this  man  to  be  a  vain,  boasting  liar,  and  siisrprcting  his 
fidclilj/,  from  various  circumstances,  amongst  which  was  that  of  hav- 
ing joiiK.'u  a  committee  to  remonstrate  against  the  var,  and  that  of 
coming  forward  as  spokesman  in  favor  of  a  nian  charged  by  many 
of  Ids  neighbors  with  giving  intelligence  to  the  enemy.  He  waiU  heard 
by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bcerstier  with  indifFercnce,  and  dismissed  with 
coolnesr;.*' 

At  page  252,  ho  stales: — "At  St.  David's  the  Commander  discov- 
fi'od  that  ?,Iajor  Chapiu's  knowledge!  of  the  roads  v/as  not  to  bo  relied 
on.  1  fe  accoriiiiigiy  i.iterrogated  several  inhabitants,  and  proceeded 
several  nulf.s,  when  arriving  at  a  cross  road,  he  demanded  of  some 
of  i\tajor  Chajjln's  men,  where  the  road  led  to?  they  replied,  tlic^' 
did  not  know.  "ITow,  not  Icnow!  wore  you  not  hero  three  days 
ago?"'     "No,   sir:    not  within  several  miles  as  far."'     'i'he  Com- 


NOTUE8    Ol*    TifK    W\R. 


-29 


luamler  now  porccivoil  that  the  (iencral  hiul  bt'on  invoighlod,  to  risk 
tliis  (lotacluni-nt  on  doulitful  iiitrlllgcncc." 

Page  '^7}'^.  "Some  of  tlic  sol  dis.sniit  Major  Chapin's  incii  now  de- 
manded, 'whcro  is  our  Commander — wliat  are  we  I.)  doT  Tin 
commanding  ollieer  looked  for  him  in  vain,  and  roplic(],  *yoM  havi.- 
uo  Coiuuiandor  hut  myself;  turn  into  the  ranlcs  and  fight  wiili  loy 
;ii(  11.  ,'>onie  did  so — others  found  it  coQvcni(.'nt  to  join  their  Com- 
mander in  the  hollow,  alongside  the  wagons." 

Page  *2o4.  After  some  more  detail,  he  continues: — "The  Com- 
1. landing  ofli'-er  now  dashed  into  the  rear,  and  found  3Iajor  Clianin 
and  a  parcel  of  his  men,  arouml  the  wagons.  'For  Ginl's  sake  Major, 
do  something — if  you  do  not  fight  with  your  men,  then  take  them  and 
furnish  mine  with  amnnition,  and  carry  oil  the  wounded  tu  the 
wagon;^  that  1  may  not  be  compelled  to  take  men  for  this  purpose 
from  my  ranks.  Major  Chapin  appeared  shorti}'  after  this,  in  the 
rear  of  the  lines,  with  a  Iccg  of  cartridges  on  his  horse.  He  called 
a  soldier,  handed  it  over,  and  resumed  his  station  in  the  hollow.  This 
was  the  whole  oj' his  crcrtion,  and  the  only  time  lie  appeared  on  tlio 
Lattle-gronnd  during  three  hours.  Tin's  is  the  man  wlio  in  an  official 
document  was  called  Uhe  hrarc  Major  Chnpiiu'  " 

Pages  25")  and  *(5.  "iVt  this  juncture,  Lieutenant-Fitzgihbon  ar- 
rived from  the  enemy  with  a  flag  of  truce.  Captain  McDowell  was 
sent  to  receive  him." 

After  further  details,  as  to  his  surrender  to  the  enemy,  he  states: — 
''Thus  terminated  one  of  the  most  unfortunate  and  impolitic  expedi- 
tions that  ever  was  planned.  Five  hundred  men  were  riski^l  to  bat- 
ter down  with  a  twelve  and  six  pounder,  Decoo's  stone  house,  said 
to  be  fortified  and  garrisoned,  with  a  company  of  regulars,  and  sixty 
to  one  hundred  Indiaas — to  capture  or  discharge  the  enemy,  and  re 
turn  by  the  way  of  St.  J)avid's  and  Queenston.'' 

"Tiiis  intelligence  was  derived  from  a  source,  decided  not  entitled 
to  confidence,  having  long  previous  to  tiiisbeea  known  by  many  for 
an  unblushing  liar." 

The  publication  of  "extracts,'''  though  lengthy,  was  necessary, 
not  only  for  the  reasons  beforn  stated,  but  that  it  might  be  generally 
known,  of  what,  liy  wiiom,  and  in  what  manner,  officers,  soldiers,  and 
citizens,  had  been  publicly  accused  by  this  historian. 

No  one  can  wish  to  be  I'ound,  or  accused  of  fighting  a  shadow. — 
Armstrong's  Notices  of  the  War  may  be  read  by,  or  known  to  but  a 


w 


rAiAins*n  iiKviEw  of  AnMsTno><)'B 


I'        iii! 


t     ii 


few  of  the  present  gcncrfition.  They  were,  probably,  by  him  in- 
tended for  th(?  information  of  foreignura,  and  our  posterity,  some 
hundreds  of  years  hence.  Should  his  works  attract  suHlcient  notice 
to  induce  or  re(piire  a  isecond  edition,  my  statements,  and  the  alfida- 
vits  and  letters  which  will  in  due  time  accompany  them,  will  bo  consi- 
dered as  appropriate  and  necessary  matters  for  a  secoiid  appendix 
thereto.  It  is  always  considered  necessary  that  a  citli'rit  and  the 
evidences  of  his  offences  be  exhibited,  to  effect  his  conviction,  as  well 
as  to  afford  a  salutary  example  to  others. 

Those  extracts  are  taken  from  John  Armstrong's  publication  of  a 
"Narrative,"  which  he  says  was  written  by  Bterstlcr.  Even  this 
narrative,  as  lie  gives  it  to  the  world,  has  an  anomalous  appearance. 
It  is  without  date,  place,  signature  of  name,  or  direction  to  any  one. 
•Should  it  bo  a  communication  or  despatch  to  the  War  l)ei)artment, 
or  merely  an  historical  publication,  the  fact  should  be  so  stated,  that 
those  who  now  are,  or  may  hereafter  be  interested  in  its  authenticity 
or  its  truth,  may  at  once  be  a!)lc  to  know  the  author,  the  time  of  its 
birth,  and  where  to  be  found  for  examination.  As  it  now  a[)pearH  the 
readers  of  Armstrong's  work,  are  by  him  informed  and  given  to  un- 
derstand, as  facts,  and  in  detail,  that  several  transactions,  during  the 
lato  war,  <lid  take  place;  the  same  having  been  so  told  by  Lieutenant 
ColonelBujrstlcr,  without  the  knowledge  of  the  man,  the  time,  plan, 
or  motive  of  his  dictum.  Surely  this  aflbrds  a  frail  foundation  for 
the  authentic  historian  to  build  his  edifice  upon. 

AV'hile  writing  the  lust  above  paragraph,  I  received  from  the  War 
l)e[)artmcnt,  a  letter,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy: 

WaK  Dl.l'AKTMI.M,   .lllIlO   l:{,    l"*."i(>. 

Sii! — I  linvi'  li;iil  till'  honor  \'\  ii>ci'ive  your  Ii'lt.'i-  ol'llic  (itlj  iii-iluiit,  ciiclaung 
oiii'  adiln'sscd  l)y  Mr.  Sjultlon  tn  you.  Mr.  Slicldmi  wIhIics  1o  Kihiw  wlit'llii'r ti 
rcjn)rt  of  (Jofoin't  JliL'rstler'n,  of  iMny 'Jft,  I"*!  I,  (:uiitaiiiiri;r  certain  slati'iiicnts, 
wiiiili  lio  ciii)i('w  Ihiiii  (ioiifnii  Ariiuitr<jng'y  rocuul  i>ulilicatiij)i,  is  ou  lili;  iu  tlii« 
l)(|(artiiii'iit. 

Oil  nti  rriii:c  '<>  (•'■iicnil  .\riiiHl,roii^'H  work,  I  iiiul  that  ihocxIrai-tH  contiiiiird 
ill -Mr.  ."^Jicldoii'H  letter,  are  imrti'iiis  id'an  aeeoiiiit  ri's|ie('tiii!,' ( 'oh»nel  llorsller'H 
iiiiKiieee-;;.|'iil  expi'ditiou  to  the  "jteiiver  Dams,"  a)iiiareiilly  not  writleu  hy  tlial 
iillieer  liini-iell',  l.iil  lor  hi-i  lieiielli  liy  some  iVieiid;  and  the  dale  whiili  Mr.  Sliel- 
(loii  lias  [,'ivi  II,  does  not  liehmcr  (,,  (|ii^  aeeiiiiiit,  hut  to  a  noil'  to  the  1,1^1  para- 
ifrapli.  with  ("olonel  lidrstlor'N  naino  apin'iided  to  it,  which  hcmmiih  to  have  no 
jiiinu'diale  (!onni;ction  with  tlic  events  oi'the  expedition  Hiic)keii  of.  In  the  Inwt 
jiara^raph  hut  one,  of  thin  kiiiiio  areounf,  I  nhverve  that  an  ollicial  Htatcinent  of 
(Joloael  Ho'rstler,  ih  h|)o1<oii  ot":  hut  ii  cliarirf)  is  at  tlio  i-anip  time  made,  liial  it 
was  never  eoniMiunicated  to  ''  ;  War  Department;  and  tiiis  seems  to  he  con- 
tirnicilliV  the  tiiet  llml  the  111  ,  do  not  mIiow  lliat  such  a  docinneiil  wns  rvo 
'daced  there.  Very  re.speii fully  vour  ino.it.  o'Kdii'nl  servant, 

i.r.wis  v\^\\ 

1|m|.      Tll.iMV,    i  '     ],n\  I       (IK, 


i 


I    '^< 


MOfTKKK    or     filE    V.AR. 


:n 


y  hiin  iii- 
ity,  some 
;nt  notice 
he  allida- 
be  consi- 
(ippcndix 
T  und  the 
n,  as  well 

ation  of  u 

Even  this 

pearance. 

)  any  one. 

artnient, 

tated,  that 

Uheiuicity 

time  of  its 

[jpears  the 

von  to  un- 

(liiring  the 

Li'uitenant 

lime,  plan, 

idution  for 

m  the  War 


{,  1h;?(;. 

it,  ciicl'isinf;; 

\\  wlii'tlicrii 

t-t:iti'lii('llts, 
II  111'.'  in  tliiH 

tri  coiitiiiiii'd 
[•I  Kii'fsllrr's 
tl>'ii  |)v  tlml. 
■li.Mr/.SIiel- 
Ik"  I;in|  purii- 

H  1(1  llllVC   III' 

In  IIk'  liiHi 
NtiitcnifMit  (if 
ii;i(l(',  lliiit  it 
i  t(i  lir  con- 
Ill,   WHS   CVl'l 

ml, 


From  thefjc  facts  and  circumstance?!,  that  l^(prf;tler,  or  eonie  friend, 
lor  him,  a,.A  in  hi:?  behalf,  did,  soon  affer  the  liattle  of  the  Heaver 
ihiins,  write  some  account  of  the  allUir,  and  forward  it  to  the  War 
Department;  that  it  was  not  placed  upon  the  records  or  liles  of  the 
ollice;  that  it  is  not  now  to  be  fur^nd  tliere,  it  may  well  bo  asked, 
now,  why  it  was  not,  and  who  preverit'od  it? 

.folm  Armstrong,  in  his  letter  to  me  of  the  *J-2u  of  May  last,  states 
tliat  it  was  nut  published  at  the  time,  because,  "under  existing  cii- 
ciunstances,  it  was  not  likely  to  do  good,''  &c.  tVe.  Again,  in  that 
Jelter  he  says — "There  can  be  no  doubt  that  in  this  decision,  the 
['resilient  exercised  a  discretion  necessary  appertaining  to  that 
oliice."  Frcjin  this  it  appears  that  the  I'resiibiit  of  the  L'nited  S;ates 
decided  that  it  should  not,  or  ought  not  to  In.;  lilcd  in  the  War  oilice. 
Or  was  that  the  order  and  discreticiuary  decision  of  John  Armstrong? 
Has  he  personally  detained  the  narrative  for  rising  of  twenty  year:?, 
wilh  a  view  now  to  incorporate  it  with  and  publish  it  as  a  part  of 
his  veracious  history? 

Ni-w,  as  to  Mr.  Armstrong  himself:  ho  has  pcrsonall}',  or  in  t!ie 
borrowed  language  of  Bcersller,  for  which  he  is  accountable  to  mo 
and  ft)  the  public,  accused  me  as  a  man,  citizen  and  oniccr,  of  seve- 
ral ili.itinet  crimes,  o'fences  or  tergiversations. 

1st.   i\Iy  fidelity  to  my  country  is  strongly  suspected. 

Having  jiiineil  a  committee  to  remonstrate  against  the  war — hav- 
ing conic  forward  as  spokesman  in  I'avor  of  a  man  charged  by  many 
of  his  neighbors  with  giving  intelligence  to  the  enemy. 

2d.  Of  being  a  vain  boasting  liar. 

;5d.  Of  cowardice  or  fully.  He  attempts  a  ludicrous  statenii.nt  of 
my  having  left  my  men  without  any  cummandiu" — of  being  found 
aft''r  nr  during  the  battle  in  the  rear  wilh  the  wngons,  and  soon  after, 
again  in  the  rear  of  the  line,  with  a  ki'g  of  cartridges  on  my  lun'se; 
that  1  called  u  soldier,  liandcd  it  over  and  resumed  my  station  in  tho 
holldw;  this  was  iIk;  whole  of  my  exertinn,  and  the  only  time  I 
appeareil  on  the  battle  grouml  fur  tiirec  liours,  isic. 

I'.veij  this  soi  dissanl  Secretary  Armstrong,  in  the  same  page 

ays — "This  is  the  man  who  in  an  onieia!  document,  was  called  Iho 

lirave  Major  Chapin."     1  must  here  pause,  to  express  my  obligation 

to  Mr.  Ariiistrong  for  this  so/ilnrii  triilii — told  by  him  probably  from 

necessity,  though  lie  aitrmpts  at  a  sarcaHin. 


33 


CIIAPKX'S    KKVIEW    OF    AIlMeTnONo'ti 


t  .'I 


k  - 


As  the  alliclavit  of  Mr.  Rouse  will  now  follow,  J  shall  dolcr  l\irthur 
stutcnients  und  tcmarks  for  succeeding  pages. 

[AFFIDAVIT.] 

yXATK  OK  Nkw-YoiiS,  ^ 

I'^.rio  Ciiuiity,  ^H.       \ 
J  v>ir.sl{i)isF.,  of  the  (ownof'Alaltaina,  county  of  (ieiicsiio,  and  state  aforfs-aic!. 


l)rin;f  (Inly  swuni.  doth   (l('i)os('  ami 


tliat  lie,   this  (ifpuiioiit,  hucaiiit:  tlrst 


ari[iijiiit('(l  with  t'oloiiol  ( 'yrciiiiis  (."lia|iiii.  acconliiifr  to  1h(>  host  of  tliis  dcpo- 
iioiit'tf  it'colh'ciioii.  on  tlic  'J'Ui  or  lirtli  day  of  May,  Ij'I;!,  at  Fori  (ii'or;ii.',  in 
I'ppor  Canada.  Tliit  on  *. In' •.';;(!  day  ct  Juno,  of  tiio  tjanio  year,  said  C'hapni 
■with  thi^  (K'l'Dn'jit  and  otlhrs,  a;!  volnnli'prsi,  were  ordered  hy  dcnrril  DfMr'iorn, 
tmd'T  llie  imnifHliato  coiiUi:and  (d't'oloin'l  C  |{.  IJoirslh  r,  to  reeoiinoilre  ihc 
counln',  and  to  advance  towards  the  eui'iny's  lini',  yvlfuli  was  iouii:;;nidi'd  hy 
(i'li'ral  N'iiiecnt — llial  in  pursuaiu-i;  of  riuh  (jrdiM',  from  (Jeneial  Dcarhoin,  the 
suid  t'iiapin,  witli  ahont  sixty  V"liiijti'iM's,  ii.eludiii}.';  this  depinieut,  who  wan 
thiMi  aitini;'  (inartcr  .Master  Sir^reaiit,  (d' the  'Jolh  rijiimein  of  inlimlry.  ]irocr'>doil 
from  F>rl  (Jiorno  1o  Qucrnston — that  on  the  line  oi'marcli,  the  thinkers  of  said 
t')r|w  oI'volunti'erK,  kiUetl  two  Indian;*  hetween  tiuei'nstoii  :i;ul  ^Jl.  David'iJ. — 
From  last  mentioni>d  plaee,  said  corpii  went  to  the  Denver  Duns,  wlwro  tliey 
ivere  attaelied  hy  tiie  IJrilish  .uid  Imlians,  we  then  lieinif  i:\  a  Ivaiu;:'  of  tiie  main 
lore.'  iMidcr  said  I5(rrstler.     On  heariny;  the  lire  from  the  cpm   y,  we  t  niied  hae'.i. 


towards  the  main  army,  <ind  mot  JJorstler  alone,  cominu'  ii 


at  lull  speed, 


on  liiirsclrdi'k.  and  addressing'  said  Chapin.  exrlaimed — '-M.'j'ir  Chapiii,  the  en-, 
my  has  atlaeki'd  ns  and  kilh'd  two  or  three  ol'  our  men!''  We  linn  coi'.tinir'd 
on  towards  the  m.iiii  hody.  \vh"n  we  were  soon  fired  al  hy  the  Indians,  whenv,  e 
wheeled  and  (dill  rd  upon  thr  Indians,  imrsuinir  Iheiii  al'out  three-ionrllis  of ii 
mile  into  the  woods,  njion  whic  h  a  misscn^rr  arrived,  hiiiitilni;-  orders  lor  said 
('lupin  and  iiis  men,  to  retreat  hack.  Soon  after,  the  llrilish  and  hidians  r.il- 
lieda";i'!i,  malvinsj  an  atlacl;  npon  Captain  MeClieHiiey's  company,  und  hrcah- 
iiilf  liis  line.  Wherenpon  suid  Chapin,  witii  the  aHtistanct>  (d"  Ihis  <le[)oneid, 
.allii'd  his  men,  drove  the  enemy  into  the  woods,  iunl  (diartred  upon  theoi  the 
seeonil  time.  Tile  f.riiii:;'  then  e(>ased  liir  ahont  one  half  hour,  when  tlu.'Siime 
conmi(>m'i  ,1  atjain,  hy  tlM>  enemy,  fioin  every  ijiiartri',  towards  our  men,  Fuid 
Ch.ijiin  WIS  then  direc'' d  hysaid  I5(ersller,  to  dislodj:e  tie-  red  coats,  covered  hy 
i  copse  of  Mii;iaes  and  other  hnisli,  at  whii  h  time  said  Chapin  jiicked  ahonf. 
tkVidve  of  his  host  shar)>-shoo1ers,  and  ordered  iIh-ijI  to  [ii-oived  cautiously  u(j 
(he  ravine,  and  shoot  o|f  th<'  mounted  men — nponwiiudi,  the  Miitish  imoK 
dialely  retreated,  after  the  first  lire,  when  said  Horstler  dire  >'ted  tiaid  Cha 
pill  to  |iost  the  (irlillery  im  the  most  clijrihle  irroinid,  to  which  upot  said 
llietstler  immediati'ly  retreated  in  (lie  rear  uj"  Ciiapin's  poiiiiion  ;  direclin;; 
(!liapin,  in  no  event  wdialever  to  rpiit  the  station,  not  even  to  pursue  tli" 
enemy,  until  he,  ISnrstli'r.  shonhl  civ((  further  orilers;  Iherehy  loiiviii!;'  said 
Cliaj'in  and  hii  voliinleers,  to  taki;  the  whole  hrnnt  and  rake  of  the  en<'iiiy':: 
fire.  Some  lime  atl'T,  said  llccrstliT  ordi  red  said  Chapin  to  retn-at  wiHi  h's 
(Chnpin's')  ne'ii.  Iiim-'diately  tie'reailcr,  Captain  Fil/L'iM'on,  of  ti.e  I'liiisii 
army,  laine  with  a.  II. ii;  of truie,  end  deinandetl  llie  surrender  <d  siiid  IVer,.li"r: 
upon  •ueli  demand  hi  iii'j;  made,  said  Iterstlcr  sent  for  siid  Clu;,  in,  to  '•(>ntlT 
,vitli  hiiii  on  Ihe  suhjeel;  \\  Ii.  n  it  was  resolved  not  to  siirri  iii'er.  Said  (  enp!" 
th'^rcMpoii  retiiriii'd  hac  k  to  Ihe  volunteers,  wlio  impiireii  wi"'ther  tiie  demand 
WJB  complied  witii:  to  whii  li  said  J'hapin  n  plied,  with  a  ;;ood  ildil  of  warieth, 
ih'it  it  w.e'  no;.  S  'Oil  iit'l'  r,  i^aid  {''irsller  s  'lit  for  s'lid  Cha'dn  ii',;<iii,  und  ii  Id 
naiil  Chapin  that  he  (the  said  Cjiapin)  must  HUrrender,  or  the  Indians  Would 
massacre  Ihe  whole  ofiis,  inasimieii  us  he.  HiiTsller,  had  jjivcn  all  iiilo  the  In- 
dians' Hands.  To  which  said  (  iiaiiin  rejdied,  t!iat  if  he,  llorsll- r.  wished  to 
Miirender,  I'.e  niiulit;  hut  that  he  i  liiipiii  w  ishni  to  he  considered  as  he|im;^iin; 
In  another  corps:  that  he  ((  hapiii )  and  his  men  Wi'ie  vvillinir  to  cut  their  wa> 
tlirou^h  the  cnemy'H  line,  at  Ih  lisk  id'  111  ir  lives,  or  peri;  'i  in  i!ie  attempt  — 
that   said  Cliapiii  istrunjjiy  teinoacttated  iinunwt   mich   surrender;    that   saiil 


i 


i 


I 


licicr  llu'ther 


-VoKS,  ^ 

■strife  idoroi-iiid, 
,  ln'caiiKt  tirsL 
of  tliit)  tlopo- 
41.  (ii'or;;-).',  in 
siiid  (.'liajiiu 
K'l-il  DrvirliDni, 
'ciiiitioitro  ;lie 
iiiii:!;iiuli'(l  !jy 
Dciiriioin,  Iho 
lilt,  who  \v;iM 
'r\ .  ]i;ocpc(leil 
tl  inkers  of".siiii.l 
!  ^1.  Diivitrt-.— 
IS,  ■i\-!irrc  llii'y 
iu::>  fif  tiio  iiKiin 
ni'  1  inicd  Ijiic'.i. 
N  ;i1  full  spoi'd, 

'liilliill,  till'  O'lJ- 

llnii  iiii'.tim^'il 

idiiiiis,  wlu'ii  V,  i^ 

iri'.'-iii'irllis  of  II 

<ii(!('j-s  li;r  ^^^i(^ 

anil  Indians  r,il- 

iiMv,  uimI  lu'cak- 

■  (his  dc[)oiicnl, 

iil'ou  tlit'iii  tlio 

,  wlicii  iIk;  Hiiiiio 

mir  li'.cii.     Fiiid 

(i.its,  cDvinx'd  by 

liii  jiii.'kcd  aliout 

f'd  (Miiliniisly  111' 

I!  Mlitlsll  i'llMlC- 
I'lrd  bJ'id  Cliil- 
wliicli  sfiiii  Haiil 
atiiiii  ;   (liiri-tiii;'. 

II    to    |MirslH'    111" 

iiy  lo.iviiiir  said 
of  till!  ciii'hiy'ti 

rt'tn  at  willi  Irs 
of  l!;c    ItllliKil 

ifniiid  Mnr.li.M-; 

111);. ill,    to  "t'l't-  I- 

»^  lid  ( 'Iiii|i!" 
lnT  till'  di'iuaiid 
(|i  al  of  warij'i'i, 

1  liV!iiil>  "ii'l  '•'  III 
liidiaiiH  Would 
ail  iiilii  till'  111- 
<llir,  winlii'd  It) 
I'd  IIS  licloiiyiii!; 
a  I'lil  tiii'ir  way 
n  liii'  iitii'iiipt—- 
iili'r;    tliat    niiid 


uni,KiS   OK    iili;    WAII. 


83 


Hiiirsllct'H  orders  wore  pcreinjitory;  tlmt  tiuid  Cliapin  and  his  iiu.n  Kiiould  coiii- 
jily;  to  wiiiidi  Hiiid  Cliapiii  Kuiiiuitted  with  j^roat  ridui'taiu.'P:  lliat  said  C'liapiii 
>i'-'iit  lioirio  lificiMi  of  liiH  woiiiidiHl  men,  Avitli  ii  iniard  f-uflieieiit  to  protect  them, 
not  cojuseiitinn'  tliat  lliey  ^liould  he  !xiveii  up,  at  any  rate,  wiiieli  was  in  disolje- 
(linu'e  of  said  noTsller'n  orders,  'liial  this  di'|ioiu'iit  iniderst.ood  at  the  tiiii(>, 
which  was  also  generally  understood,  tiiat  in  tiie  4tli  artiile  ol' liu'rstler'ii  eapilii- 
lalioii,  anionic  oliier  tiiiii^s,  it  was  stipulated,  tint  saidChapin  and  liis  company 
of  voiunteers,  slioLdd  be  jiarroled,  and  sent  lioiiii>;  wliieh  fact  said  J'u  rslii  r  in- 
formed this  di'poncut  was  true,  iit  tiio  time;  tiiat  after  said  surrender  to  the 
enenij',  said  4th  article  was,  by  said  HoM'stler,  KXPrNOKD.  That  said  J'o-r.stler 
assiiriied  it  as  a  reason,  oxiiressly,  that  if  (Hiapin  and  lii.'Hnen  should  make  their 
escape,  tiie  who!(>  I  4tli  reuiiiii'nt  must  Ije  massacred. 

Thill  this  (!i  poiii'iit  was  li-eipieiitiy  in  scoutiiijr  parties  with  said  Ciiapin,  nn- 
rler  the  coiauiaiid  ot'Geiierals  Dearljorn,  L';wis  aii;l  Koyil,  and  tiiat  deponent 
was  well  aeiiuaiiited  with  said  (.'iiapin,  tliiit  he  was  a  j^uod  man  to  tliost  over 
wiioiii  i*^  liad  (,onuuaiid — a  frood  soldier  whenever  and  wherever  there  was  ilan- 
;vrr  to  he  einfuinteivd:  and  a  ^ood  oDlccr  in  any  station  assigned  hini;  tli  il  he 
was  continually  active  in  the  battle  at  the  Ueaver  DaniF,  during  tiie  wi:o!o  of 
tlie  en;rancineiit.  .lAMLS  JlOUfcJE. 

►?'.vorn  and  subscribed  this  lltli  day  of  June,  IS?A\  before  me. 

HtNRY  Slape,  .T.  p. 


As  to  tlio  cliargos  piiljlishod  by  John  Ariiislrong  ngniiist  mc,  of  niy 
.'niuielit)-  to  my  country,  my  c(.nJiict  daring  tli'j  war,  and  my  cour- 
;ign  in  battle,  I  consider  them  till  put  ;U  rest,  Mithi  ut  further  tcsti- 
)nony.  The  prcccdin!^  aniduvituf  Jumos  House,  and  the  nfiidavit  of 
.lonJithan  Dibble,  whiidt  liere  follows,  (two  r<':il  veterans  of  the  ser- 
vice,) together  with  the  following  statement  of  f;ix  of  our  old  and 
respected  fellow-citi/.ens  of  this  place,  must  be  considered  conclusive 
.ifi^ainst  this  flagrant  libeller.  To  rebut  .sueli  vile,  and  at  the  same 
time  such  vague  and  unspecillc  cliarg.;s,  made  after  such  a  lapse  of 
time,  oven  this  .satisfactory  and  dcci.sive  ovideuce,  presents  to  the 
rational  mind  not  oidy  a  singular  incident,  but  induces  tlio  most  ab- 
siilute  nnd  full  conviction  of  the  innocence  of  t!ie  aceu.«ed,  on  theono 
liaiid,  and  of  tho  wantonness  of  tlio  accuser  on  the  other. 

To  what  fact  or  circumstance  does  he  refer,  when  lie  s|)caks  of  my 
having  ♦'come  forward  aa  sjiokesman  in  favor  of  a  man  charged  by 
many  of  his  neighbors  with  j^\ing  intelligenco  to  the  rnemy?"  I 
hiiow  of  none — nor  can  I  discover  any  trace  of  such  a  transaction 
upon  this  frontier,  during  the  war.  Thei'o  is  none.  'I'hero  arc 
many  other  witnesses  whose  nttin  ;;  .lud  characters  may  snon  bo 
thrown  into  the  scales  against  tie.'  weight  of  Armstrong,  McCiura 
iind  Jbrrsllcr,  nnd  their  characters. 

It  i.s  my  inientiiiii  to  gi\<',  in  j;iu"ci;eding  pagc^,  ?orne  referrnce'? 
and  partioiilnr  statenu'Uts  in  relation  to  the  ollicial  conduct  ami  rlut- 


34 


CIlAriN'H    REVIEW    OF    AUAlSTROXCrB 


ractcr  oi  th"  "sot  disant"  Si!creti\ry  Armstrong,  and  perhaps  some 
of  a  more  general  and  interesting  character. 


"■I 
,1 


'■  * 


i 


SrvTF.  OF  Nf.vv-Youk,  I 
Uric  County,  ss.  S 
JowTHAN  DiiiBi.r,  now  of  tin'  city  of  BufTiilo,  in  the  siiid  roiiiity  of  Erip, 
b'"'in}j  tluly  sworn,  siiys,  that  in  l-lli,  ho  was  in  the  military  Horvic^;  in  Ciuiaihi, 
as  ;i  voluntopr,  in  the  rorpd  of  Major  Cyrcnius  Chniiin,  and  under  his  connnand. 
Tliut  the  ilay  or  two  hut  one  before  the  cxedition  to  the  JJeaver  Dams,  made  by 
order  of  General  Dearborn,  under  the  connnand  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  IJoirsller, 
he,  with  the  said  .Major  Chai)in  anl  about  forty-five  or  fifty  men,  were  sent  out 
to  reconnoiti  r  the  enemy — and  that  he  went  over  the  same  ground  where  the 
battle  of  the  Heaver  Dams  subseiinently  look  place;  that  he,  with  the  others, 
went  on  beyond  Decoos'  stone  house — meetinir  none  of  the  enemy  we  returned 
to  Fort  Georjje.  One  of  the  men  staid  behind  and  was  taken  by  the  eneni}-.  On 
our  way  back  to  the  Fort,  we  were  aivain  attacked:  we  ajjain  drove  them  back; 
they  were  composed  of  Kni^lish  and  Indians;  we  stopped  on  our  return  and  buried 
one  of  our  men:  that  this  deponent  well  recollects  that  the  next  (nenintj  Wt> 
were  ordered  to  return  and  to  attack  the  enemy  n^ain;  this  expedition  was  to 
he  ciunmaniled  by  JJoTstbu';  to  this  stron;'  objections  were  made:  thai  the  said 
(_'ha|iinrcmonstrateil,  and  (li\>ired  that  we  shun  Id  po  nndiT  the  command  i  if  Scott, 
Christie  or  Miller,  and  wiien  it  was  ti)uud  liy  him  and  the  men  that  iJd.'rsllcr 
was  to  have  '.'lo  command,  ijreat  displeasure  wa'*  manifested  anil  fidly  expressed. 
But  the  saiue  eveninir  we  were  marched  for  the  Beaver  DaniB,  under  tlie  com- 
luaiul  ofBiLMsller;  we  arrived  tiiere  at  about  10  o'clock  A.  M.;  that  on  our  way 
Major  Chapin  was  ordered  to  <io  on  in  aiKance;  he  f-oon  returned  and  informed 
[iirrsller  that  111'  enemy  was  near  Ih  '  road,  and  that  we  should  soon  bi'  attacked 
by  them.  W'e  eontinued  our  march,  in  advance,  until  wt)  lieard  a  tirinsi'  in  our 
rear;  we  were  iinmcdiatrly  wheidi'd,  and  re'urned  to  (lie  main  body.  On  our 
way  wliilo  rv'turninij,  we  met  Colonel  l?ii  rsller  rKliiiij  vi'ry  rapidly  towards  us; 
when  he  cann;  up  to  Us  he  cried  out,  ''Major  Chapiii,  we  are  attacked."  Wo 
continued  on  our  way  and  were  soon  fired  upon  by  the  Indiaii-i:  w(!  wheeled  to 
the  left,  diarized  upon  and  routed  them.  One  of' the  Indians  hiul  killed  three  ot' 
nurmcn;  Miijor  Ch:ipin  tJien  ordered  this  depuiKuit  and  th)-c(!  others  to  crpei> 
alonjj  towanls  liiat  Indian  and  to  sjioot  iiim:  w.'  did  so,  and  this  deponent  then 
shot  and  killi'dlhe  said  Indian,  look  his  [run,  Iiali  he!,,  iVc,  and  ntinne  !  bark  to 
the  coii'jiany.  This  Indian  had,  several  times  betiire,  lired  upon  us,  but  endea- 
vored to  keep  himself  concralcd.  y\fler  our  return  to  liu  islicr's  cor)).^,  the  firing 
censed  f'lr  so!)i'  time:  llien  wo  were  iiyain  attacked  by  the  liidians;  w<*  U!>;iiii 
chary^ed  upon  lliem  afid  drove  thi  lu  liack;  liiere  was,  then,  considciable  desid- 
lorv  tiriii';'  upon  us  by  llie  enemy,  and  pavlicidaily  by  the  Indians. 

Major  t'ha|)in  wis  tli  'ii  orden'd  by  I'lersller  to  place  the  arlilliTy  in  the  most 
advantajicous  position,  which  was  in  the  rear  of  HiiTsfler's  men,  which  he  did. 
BuTstler,  with  his  mi'ii,  then  relreated  back  t'urther  in  the  rear  ol'lhe  artillery, 
leavinii;  Major  Ciuipiii  and  his  corps  in  the  i'roiil,  and  he  was  ordered  not  to  re- 
treal  nor  to  advaiic<' upon  the  I  nemv  without  express  orders  I'rom  lin-rstler.  Wo 
soon  ri'ceived  an  order  from  him  In  rel  rcat  to  his  slation,  which  order  we  obeyed, 
tfoou  lifter  this  our  retreat,  a  Jiaily  with  a  llai;  was  discovered  coming  from  llir. 
enemy;  we  were  Ihiii  nrdeied  to  {'•ivtn  m  eoluiiiu;  llii-  ollirer.  Fit/.;^ibbon,  with 
file  tlajf,  w.is  uiel  by  Hicrsller  luinself,  in  o,ir  front.  I'lt/jrilibou  ileruandcd  ti> 
know  who  commanded  us'  Hurstler  replied  Ihat  he  commanded,  lie  then  or 
dered  us  to  surrender  as  prisoners  oi'war,  and  said  that  if  we  did  not  immedi- 
Jitely  surrender,  he  sh  )uld  let  tli"  Indians  and  (ihuiijarians  upon  us,  and  we 
nhoiild  ail  b"  innssi'cred  ii|ion  Ih"  »po1.  IJorsller  Ihcn  ciillcii  liirward  Major 
Chapin,  who  iidvanci'd  to  them;  MoTsller  told  him  that  he  Mas  ordernl  to  sur- 
render. Major  ( 'hniiiu  renioiiHl rated.  li(!rHtler  replied  to  him  that  the  propo- 
nilion  ot  I'lt/iribbon  wn,:  a  very  fair  one,  iV.e.  ('hapiii  then  pioponed  not  to 
Mirreiuler  to  so Muiill  a  iuun!)er  ol  the  i  uemv,  that  tli'."i'  wan  m  t  .lullicitut  ol 


I 


NOTICES  OF    THK    WAK. 


;?.-) 


oi'haps  some 


-VoKK,  ^ 

y,  N«-     s 

maty   of  Erie, 
CO  in  Canada, 
ills  coiiuiiand. 
)aiiis,  made  by 
lonel  lJ(i)rsller, 
were  sent  out 
11(1  wljero  tlie 
til  the  otlicrs, 
ly  we  returno(i 
lio  cnoniy.    On 
)ve  theni  l)ack; 
I  urn  iind  buried 
xt  ('vrniiijr  wi> 
)('(iilion  was  to 
tlial  the  said 
uiiiind  (ifHf'ott, 
1  Ibut  I>(i,'r.sllcr 
fully  cx|iresspd. 
under  tlie  cdiu- 
liit  on  our  way 
d  and  inl'oruied 
oon  bi'  attacked 
1  a  tirinsx  i"  our 
body.     On  our 
lily  towards  ns; 
Hacked."     We 
we  wheeled  to 
d  killed  three  ot" 
tilers    to   eret'|) 
i  dejionent  then 
eturne  !  ba'  k  to 
us,  but  endea- 
•or|)s,  llie  liriiii^ 
lans;    we  nijain 
-idt'iablo  «le.sul- 

>ry  in  the  most 
whirli  he  did. 
d'lhe  artillery, 
lered  !ii)t  to  re- 
lioTitler.  We 
der  we  obi'yed. 
iminy  from  Ilie. 
it/.;^ilibon,  with 
I  diMiiandod  to 
.  Me  then  or 
1  not  innni'di- 
in  lis,  and  we 
liirward  Major 
nrd^'red  fo  Hur- 
lat  fhe  propo- 
o|iONed  not  to 
I  .lullicicul  of 


tliom  to  forma  guard  for  the  prisonerH;  thiithe  waa  indilTerent  as  to  the  Indians; 
and  lie  rcfu.sed  to  surrender.  He  said  that  he  belontjed  to  another  <Mjr[)s,  and 
(hat,  rather  than  to  surrender,  he  would  with  his  own  men,  fujht  their  own  way 
tlirou;>h  the  enemy  f  o  the  army. 

It  was  then  proposed  by  Fitzgibbon,  that  we  should  surrender;  the  ofTicers  to 
wt.ar  their  .si{li'/i,-iii.i;  the  men  to  keep  their  kiiapaaclni;  to  be  inarched  to  the 
Forty  Mile  Creek,  to  General  Vincent's  quarters,  and  then  diseharfred  upon 
their  parole,  and  sent  home.  1'liis  was  ultimately  acceded  to,  with  other  ])ro- 
visions,  that  we  were  all  to  be  well  used;  that  none  oi"  the  enemy,  Cisj  ecially 
the  Indians,  should  i)e  permiUed  to  jjlunder,  abuse  or  misuse  any  one  of  then;. 
We  were  tiien  marclied  to  the  Forty;  v.'ore  tiiere  dolaiiicd  as  prisoner.-,,  five  oi 
six  days.  iVIeantime,  Bourstler  and  his  men,  were  marched  oil',  and  taken  do\ui 
the  lake  to  (he  enemy;  our  |)arole  was  rcl'e.sed;  we  were  then  nrirehed  to  IJui- 
lin^ton  heights;  there  detained  three  weeks.  Duriny;  that  delay.  Dr.  Chaj)iii 
insisted  that  he  should  be  permitted  to  visit  his  men,  alledyini!:  that  thty  were 
t.:i<;k,  and  reciuircs!  his  attention  and  advice.  He  did  vl.-it  iheie.  ijeveral  lone; ; 
anil  during  that  time,  several  id'his  men  escaped;  some  of  them  found  thi.ir  way 
lo  Fort  (i(^orge;  some  crossed  tin>  lake  home.  About  thirty-two  of  us  were  put 
into  two  boats  under  a  ijuard,  and  started  for  IMontreal,  as  we  were  told.  Caj)- 
tain  Smith,  one  of  Major  Chapin's  volunteers,  was  sick  at  the  time  of  our  em- 
barkation, and  at  llrst  declined  to  take  the  voyage;  said  he  ])rcferred  to  stay 
there  for  medical  assistance  and  su))port.  He  however  was  ])ersuaded  by  Ur. 
Chapin  to  embark  witli  ns,  by  assurances  that  our  voyage  would  not  be  long  or 
tedious;  and  that  he  might  expect,  soon  to  be  with  ids  friends.  He  embarked 
witii  us.  Also,  one  of  the  soldiers  fnained  Duel,)  of  the  enemy,  was  embarked 
with  uk;  he  was  in  irons,  and  destined  to  have  liis  tri  il  at  Kingston  or  Mont- 
real. 

The  IJritish  soldiers  of  the  guard,  were  principally  in  tlie  bo:it  where  fliis  de- 
ponent was;  the  officers  were  in  the  front  boat,  with  .M:ijor  Cha])in,  Captain 
Smith  and  Ilobeil  Kaene.  The  rear  boat  was  rowed  liy  us,  the  jirisoners;  and 
we  were  c)rdered  to  keep  four  rods  in  the  rear  of  the  boat  containing  tiie  otlicers. 
Major  Chapin,  in  ou:-  ))rogress,  and  wliile  we  were  rajiidly  proi,'ressing  down  the 

lake,  made!  u  sign  tc»  us,  wliieh  was  under.-tood  by ii'aekiidcr,  (who  was  sub- 

.secpiently  a  captain;)  vvc  plied  (jur  oars  witii  greater  f'  rce,  and  soon  they  were 
doubly  mannc'd;  we  were  soon  uj)  with,  and  along  side  of  (he  foremost  boat;  the 
offK'cr  of  the  laianl.  Sliowers,  ordered  ns  back;  ('liaj)in  remonsf  rated,  and  we 
came  along  side.  Major  Chapin  then  sei/ed  thesaid  oflicirand  threw  him  down; 
we  tlien  ail  jumped  on  board  that  boat,  and  immediately  disariued  all  the  .'.muimIs. 
W'e  then  were  ordered  bv  .Major  Chapin  to  shift  our  course  for  I'ort  (Jeorge, 
where  we  arrived  nafidy  tln^  next  morning.  Lieutenant  Showers,  in  liis  agony, 
finding  himself  and  his  men  our  prisoners,  instead  of  our  guards,  recpiested  to  be 
put  on  shor'.  Major  Chapin  retiised  his  request — told  Irm  to  go  with  us — that 
we  lived  wel! — were  good  men,  ».Vc. 

And  this  de|.on(>nt  'urtlier  says,  that  during  the  whole  of  that  campaign  in 
Canada,  and  wliili-  he  waw  there,  'Major  Chapin  was  the  most  active,  and  engaged 
ill  more  actions  than  an\  other  (dbcer  there,  during  th'  time:  that  he  was  (  on- 
stantly  and  pciNoiially  attentive  (o,  and  careful  of  all  tlie  men,  ami  of  their  health, 
HubsiBtciiceaitd  comfort,  with  liiin,  and  under  his  command. 

JONA'l'HAV  DIRBLE. 

Hworn  this  2Uh  day  of  .lune,  1  •*;[(!,  before  me. 

iiariu  si..ii'K,  J.  r. 


Wo  the  tindeisigned,  observing  from  a  newspaper  publication  that  Major Cy- 
renius  Chapin  lias  be 'u  ch-n-gcd  with  liavintr  conduet"d  duriiux  (lie  late  war  in  a 
manner  from  which  iiinight  be  inferred  that  he  was  unfiiithful  and  treacherous 
to  his  country,  do  hereby  certify,  that  we  resideil  in  the  immediate  neighbor- 
Imodofsaifl  Cbiipin  betiire  and  durini;  the  war,  and  hadulmost  daily  inter<'oursi' 
withhinij  that  wo  liave  no  knowledge  or  lecolleetiDii  of  his  ''having  joined  a 


i-  -   I 


30 


(HAl'l.N'ri    KKVIKW    iT    AIl.MSTUO.Nu'ri 


!    I 


Hi 


^1    I 


5   ^■ 

•■i 


«  I 


loiiiiiiitti't;  to  ri^nionstnil"  !iQ;;uii--.t  tlif  v.T.r,"  or  even  of  tin- cxistenci,'  (if'sucli  it 
coiiiniiUoe:  nor  that  lie  (ktoiulcd  the  case  of  any  ])erson  "cliarsoil  by  iiis  nciirli- 
bors  with  |j;iving  intolli|iPnco  to  tho  tnicin^'."  Oji  tlio  conln^ry,  wo  never  sus- 
pnctod  hiri  "tidclity  to  Jiis  country,"  and  considi-rud  him  uiiiisually  zoalous  and 
active  in  sucli  military  Oi<i'rations,  as  he  had  in  charr^e.  W  ;  !  id  p(;r:dfMiaily,  no 
opportunity  of  wilut'.ssln'i;  his  coiivlinvt  in  the  .several  enjxan'innoiitfj  wilhtl'.e  ene- 
my, but  th(!  ver'.iu.!  and  newspaper  reports  of  the  day  bore  unoi^'.'.v  .teal  ttislimeny 
to  jiia  bravery  and  good  c  jnduct. 

E.  WALDilN, 

GROlKJi;  COIT, 

jB.  CAlvVL, 
Buil'aJo,  Juiie  Q8,  l?;]l). 


vn.  'ixnvxscNi), 

II.  IJ.   S'O'CTKR, 
JOSi;ril  J.AvNDU.N. 


Tlic  following  relation  of  traiisactiond  which  touk  nl.-icf;  on  tlii.-. 
Froiiti'.r  (hiring  the  \\  i\r,  jn'ohahiy  nugiit  never  liave  seen  the  iigiit. 
Ft  v/ould  not  I'roin  my  pen,  were  it  not  tor  John  Armstrong's  Jihel- 
lous  pul)heatioii  rd"  "Notices  of  the  War  of  IBl'J."' 

J5efore  this,  they  were  not,  hy  me,  thouglit  of  sullicient  importance 
to  bo  put  in  prhat,  or  in  any  way  hiitl  before  the  public  or  posterity; 
they  might,  and  doubtless,  wotild  have  been  forgotten  even  by  those 
who  wore  well  acquainted  with  them  at  the  time. 

I  Weill  know  that  I  did  my  duty  faithfully  to  my  country  during 
the  war,  and  thvre  irt  it  rest.  I  asked  for  no  monumeiij  either  el' 
stone  or  paper.  Publicity,  by  me,  was  unfhought  of;  even  my  chil- 
dren might  ha\c  remained  ignorant  of  much  of  my  conduct,  and  of 
several  transactions  with  the  eneuiy.  Nor  do  1  in  anv  niuniier  en- 
vy this  soi  diaaiU  Secretary  John  Armstrong  for  his  h;ird-c;irned 
glory  or  renown.  Let  honor  thi(.'ken  around  and  over  him.  liortl 
Bacon  said  well,  that  "a  lame  maro  in  tho  right  ror.d  will  boat  a 
race-rin  the  wrong.*"  My  name  was  by  Armstrong  brought  forward 
and  give'n  to  the  public  in  a  manner,  caKudaled,  if  not  intended,  to 
cloud  it  with  iufunn. 


I 


t     ^h\lk 


\ 

-    M 


mS    STATKMEXT    OF    (.FNERAL    UEARHOHn's    CONDLTT. 

Dearborn,  as  tho  Commanding  Officer,  took  from  the  eiK'my  Fort 
Niagara  and  Little  York,  He  was  a  veteran  of  JUuikcr  Hill.  His 
well-established  military  ciiaraeter  received  confirmation  ntid  per|)C- 
tuify  frotn  his  cmhIuc!  in  the  late  war. 

As  to  A'.s  accu.-nfions  ngain^^l  nn;,  and  mv  eha racier,  wherever 
they  are  .'pecific  as  to  d.itc,  phice,  or  any  prominent  circunistatice, 
may  have  already  l,ct;n  sulliciently  refuted  and  dis|)roved.  A  vain 
boasting  liar,  and  an  opposer  of  the  war,  a  coward  in  action.     Tho 


$. 
^ 


i 


NOTICFS    OP    TllK    WAU. 


•II 


ciHt;  (if'siicli  it 

by  liis  nciirli- 

\ve  jioviT  pus- 

ly  '/(.'uloiis  and 

iK.'r;;r.|i;iiiv,  no 
rv.itiilli:-\':l.-- 

i-il  t(;.sliiiK'iiy 

WVSiyNi), 

J.  a:\don. 


ibliowiiig    paper    testimonies   will  surely,   ibr  the  present,  put   the 
enemy,  //or/y  da  cnmlmt. 

I  .sliall  now  nierely  mention  the  fact  ih;it\vilh  others  lierc  in  ISlti, 
I  organised,  controlled  md  assisted  to  retake  our  Brig  Adams,  which 
the  enemy  had  previously  captured,  and  the  British  Frigate  C'aledo- 
;iia,  from  under  the  Batteries  of  Fort  Fi  ie. 


luce  on  thi.--. 
een  the  light, 
strong's  iibel- 

it  importance 

or  posterity; 

!vcn  by  those 

luntry  during 
ien|  cither  of 
even  my  chil- 
nduet,  and  of 
\  manner  en- 
hard-earned 
r  him.  Jiord 
I  will  heat  a 
nght  forward 
intended,  to 


i)UlT. 

)  eniTny  Fort 
irilill.  His 
n  and  periie- 

•r,  wherever 
Ircumstanco, 
fed.  A  vain 
'ction.     Tho 


I 


Bi'FFAi.o,  July  1,  i^;^(;. 
Dort.  i'lji'Liiins  Ciiiiiiiii,  Btijf'alu. 

Dkaii  tisin: — Loarninjr  tliiit  your  ronchirt  as  an  oflicer  and  as  a  citizen,  durinir 
tlie  late  war  with  Great  Britain,  lias  recently  lieen  nnpcached  under  the  sanetinii 
ofa  name  sufliciontly  elevated  ti)  justify  an  appeal  on  your  part  to  the  ])ul)!ie, 
niy  hunihle  testimony  is  most  chei'rfully  yielded,  that  ^;reat  merit  was  conceded 
to  you,  in  tlii.-;  conununity,  at  the  time,  as  an  active  partisan  ollicr,  who,  not 
stopiiinif  to  handy  with  conHtitulioiuil  scrui  :es,  was  ever  ready  to  enihark  in 
sudden  and  lia/iirdous  enterprises — so  nuich  so  that  your  gallantry  and  devotion 
to  the  connnon  cause,  were  almost  proverbial  on  hoth  sides  of  the  strait.  The 
jiart  assigned  to^and  succOK;dVi!ly  carried  out  hy  you  in  the  nieniorahle  atrdr  (d' 
euttinji;  out  two  British  armed  vessels,  from  under  the  ^uns  of  Fort  Jliie,  and  the 
darinnr  ;itt('in])t  hy  which  yon  .'Mid  your  lionu-ades  rose  upon  and  overjiowered 
your  captors,  hrin'rin;;  them  pii^oivrs  of  war  in  ;in  ojicn  I;  )af  across  [-ake  Onta- 
rio to  I''ort  .\i;iL!:a";i,  are  inatt(M's  of  history,  and  should,  I  jimst  believe,  moft 
ainjily  vindicate  your  reputation  as  a  soldi?r  and  as  a  patriot,  in  the  minds  of 
all  who  are  familiar  with  the  events  of  that  day. 

Jlespoctfully,  your  obeilient  servant, 

AVM.  B.  ii()CFii:sTr:u. 


S AVDirsKV  Cn\-,  .tune  .'iO,  1S3(). 
To  fol.  Ci/rciiiitf!  f'litijiiii. 

Di.vK  Siii: — Vnii  wdl  please  receive  the  enclosed  ns  an  act  of  justice  to  you. 
IFavin}f  ji'st  now  r  "ad  and  eximined  the  ">fotices  of  the  War  of  l.^l'J,"  by  ,Iohn 
ArmstrotK^-,  and  lindin;;  the  conduct  and  character  of  Major  Cyrcnius  t'hapin 
impii;riicd,  I  feel  bouuil,  asa(ili/j'n  and  iii;  ollicer  with  him  in  th:it  campaii;n,  to 
stall"  some  Huts  iclaliv^'  t:>  his  coiuhicl,  character  aiul  reiiutalion  at  the  time. 
My  inti.iiate  nc(piaintance  with  him  diirinjf  the  war,  authorises  and  reipiires  of 
nie  a  candid  and  full  slatemenl  (d'liicts  as  they  took  j)lace. 

Bcluij  myself  in  l-^l',',  '!:',  'it  and  '!"),  an  ollicer  in  the  rcfjular  army  of  the 
rnited  States  upon  this  frontier,  1  had  a  {rreat  op|)ortnnity,  indei>endently  of 
my  personal  knowleilije  of  or  acquaintanpe  with  Major  C'hapin,  to  be  fully  and 
correctly  informed  o(  his  coiidur.t  nnd  standing  as  an  r)fficer,  and  of  tlio  several 
•'iifjnjrcnients  with  the  cneniy  in  which  \\i'.  wns  a  parly. 


if  f 


\in 


CHAPIn's    UEViEW    OK    ARMSTRONG'S 


If 


i  >' 


H  ' 


T  was,  also,  at  Iiead  quarters,  when  the  news  of  the  defeat  and  capture  of  the 
j)arty  arrived.  But  at  that  time,  nor  at  any  time  since,  have  I  ever  heard  any 
blame  attaciied  to  Major  Cliapin,  either  by  tlie  officers,  soldiers  or  citizens,  until 
tlu-  publication  of  John  Armstrong's  book.  lie,  on  the  contrary,  at  all  times 
conducted  himself  as  a  brave  officer,  good  citizen  and  man.  He  was  looked  upon 
by  tlie  officers  generally,  as  the  most  active  and  useful  man  in  tJie  service  on  this 
frontier,  as  well  from  his  uniform  personal  bravery,  as  his  particular  knowledge 
of  tlie  enemy's  country.  His  promptitude  and  activity  were  often  spoken  of  by 
the  officers  as  most  decidedly  meritorious,  whenever  he  had  been  [mt  into  service 
or  action  upon  requisition.  It  was  well  known  and  understood  by  all,  that  tlu; 
kind  and  proper  treatment  of  many  of  the  prisoners,  by  the  enemy,  was  the  re- 
sult of  tlie  interposition  of  Major  Chapui.  He  at  all  times  reprehended,  and 
was  opposed  to  violence  upon,  or  interference  with,  either  the  persons  or  pro- 
perty of  individuals,  citizens  in  Canada,  though  enemies.  1  became  well  ac- 
quainted with  him,  in  181'^,  and  have  since  continually  been  his  immediate 
neighbor,  until  within  the  last  two  years.  From,  or  during  that  time,  I  have 
never  heard  him  charged  by  any  one,  with  eitlier  cowardice  or  disloyalty;  but 
on  the  contrary,  have  ever  viewed  him  as  a  brave,  loyal  and  good  citizen  and 
soldier. 

Your  friend  and  servant, 

JOHN  G.  CAMr. 


!f 


Toronto,  8th  July,  18.m 
To  Cyrcnius  Cliap'in,  Esq.,  City  of  Buffalo, 

My  Dear  Sir: — I  returned  to  my  home  last  evening,  al^er  an  absence  of  some 
weeks,  and  found  your  letter  of  the  Sdth  ult.,  in  wliich  you  ask  nie  to  state  what 
I  knew  of  you  during  the  late  war,  and  whether  you  were  ever  suspected  in  my 
country  of  being  a  traitor  to  the  United  States. 

Were  I  to  state  in  detail  what  I  have  known  of  you,  and  what  I  have  learned 
from  credible  sources,  it  would  carry  me  farther  than  I  can,  in  the  irJdst  of  the 
most  pressing  public  duty,  go:  but  1  will  briefly  say,  that  1  have  hitherto  consi- 
dered 3'ou  one  of  the  most  faithful  and  most  devoted  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
and  one  of  her  best  and  bravest  defenders.  In  the  sunmier  of  IHK?,  the  capture 
of  you  and  your  mounted  men  was  one  of  the  principal  objects  \  had  in  v'ew;  and 
having  been  fortunate  enough  to  accomplish  it,  you  were  sent  from  the  head  of 
Lake  Ontario  in  a  batteau,  with  other  prisoners  of  war,  to  be  forwarded  to  Lower 
Canada,  which  liatteau,  raid  the  guard  hiiving  charge  of  you,  you  and  your  fel- 
low prisoners  captured  ami  carried  with  you  to  your  own  shores.  During  the 
following  winter  you  were  again  taken  prisoner  at  Hiiffalo,  wl"  n  that  town  was 
cajttured,  and  sent  to  Quebec.  I  met  you  at  Montreal,  and  you  politely  ac- 
cepted an  invitation  to  dine  with  me  at  the  mess  of  the  40th  Regiment;  wliich 
invitation  1  certainly  would  not  have  given,  had  I  thought  you  other  than  a 
faithful  citizen  and  gallant  defender  of  your  couiitry. 

Upon  the  tliree  charges  made  against  you,  as  stated  in  your  letter,  I  observe, 
that  as  to  your  being  a  "liar"  I  knew  nothing;  until  I  read  your  letter,  I  never 


NOTICES   OF    THE    WAR. 


39 


capture  of  the 

:ver  heard  any 

r  citizens,  until 

ry,  at  all  times 

as  looked  upon 

service  on  this 

liar  knowledge 

L'H  spoken  of  by 

put  into  service 

y  all,  that  tlio 

y,  was  the  re- 

•reliended,  and 

)orsons  or  pro- 

)ecanie  well  ac- 

his  ini;nodiate 

at  time,  I  have 

disloyalty;  but 

Dod  citizen  and 


s^  G.  CAMP. 


.Tuly,  183(1 

ahdonce  of  some 
ne  to  state  wliat 
suspected  in  my 

it  I  liave  learned 
tiie  midst  of  the 
e  hitherto  consi- 
ic  United  States, 
"^1  n,  the  capture 
lad  in  view;  and 
Vom  the  head  of 
varded  to  Lower 
ou  and  your  fel- 
es.  During  the 
n  tliat  town  was 
you  politely  ac- 
e^riment;  wliich 
ou  otiier  than  a 

elter,  I  observe, 
;r  letter,  I  never 


licard  your  veracity  called  in  (piestion.  If  you  are  a  "vain  boaster,"  I  had  no 
opportunity  of  knovi'ing  it,  but  you  certainly  often  threw  yourself  in  the  way  of 
meeting  yourenemies.  And  as  to  your  being  a  "coward,"  I  declare  that  1  always 
thought  you  a  modern  (Quixote,  and  often  have  said  so  of  you.  In  making  this 
declaration,  T  am  sure  you  w'll  not  understaiul  it  as  intended  disparagingly — I 
use  it  to  show  that  I  thou^ai  you  nmch  more  brave  than  most  of  your  comrades 
wlio  were  in  ar.Ts  against  us. 

The  favorable  impressions  of  you  remaining  on  my  mind  are  so  strong,  that 
oidy  two  days  ago,  I  requested  of  a  gentleman  from  Ihifliilo,  wlio  travelled  witli 
me,  but  wlioiic  name  I  did  not  learn,  to  present  my  best  respects  (o  you,  which  1 
liope  lie  will  not  fail  to  do. 

Believe  me,  my  dear  Sir,  to  be  very  truly  yours, 

JAMES  FITZGIBBON. 


Br-ACK  Rock,  August  Sth,  l!*3(). 

Dk.vr  Siu: — I  liave  received  your  letter  of  the  2Utli  ultimo,  accompanying  a 
volume  of  General  Armstrong's  "Notices  of  the  War  of  1812,"  and  pointing  mc 
to  that  part  of  it:  coiitents  which  purports  to  be  a  memoir  by  Colonel  Bocrstler, 
and  coufiiiniug  a  gioss  and  vulgar  assault  on  your  fame  and  cliaracter. 

Tiii.'i  liliellons  attntli  would  hardly  have  deserved  your  notice,  at  tlie  present 
day,  but  for  the  coinitnnance  thus  given  to  it  by  tlie  distinguished  individual  in 
whoso  name  tlie  book  is  put  forth,  and  which  attaclies  to  it  an  importance  that  it 
could  iwt,  otherwise,  claiui;  and  [  am  not,  therefore,  surjjrised,  that  you  should 
hiive  felt  it  to  be  your  duty,  publicly  to  repel  it:  while  I,  at  the  same  time,  ad- 
mire, and  a|)prove  of  the  generous  promptitude  witli  which  many  of  our  most 
respf'ctable  citi/eus  have  already  stepped  forward,  to  rescue  your  reputation  from 
Eu.'li  immerited  aspersions. 

tt  so  happened  that  during  llic  wliole  period  of  the  late  war,  except  when 
you  were  a  prisoner  with  the  enemy,  I  was  so  situated  as  to  be  in  the  Jiabit 
of  fthuost  daily  intercourse  witli  you,  affording  me  tiie  fullest  opportunity  to 
oli.-ierve  your  course,  jiolitical  and  military;  and  1  take  great  pleasure  in  de- 
clining, that  I  knew  no  indivi<lual  who  was,  on  all  occasions,  more  open  and 
decided  in  the  expression  ofopinimis  approving  of  the  justice  of  the  war  on  our 
iniit — none  who  displaced  more  p;i(riotic  zeal  and  entliiisiasm  in  cncouniging 
and  Hiding  its  efficient  prosecution — none  who  was  more  ready,  in  every  emer- 
gency, to  piuliark,  and  who  mutually  did  embark,  in  an  almost  uninterrupted  suc- 
cession of  enterprizes  against  the  enemy,  involving  iiiiiniiicnt.  personal  hazard, 
as  well  as  great  liiligiie  and  privation — none  more  liberal  of  his  ])urse — and,  1 
tlunk  i  may  safely  add — measuring  the  merit  by  the  number  and  importance 
l^und  many  nt'tho'ii  were  f;ir  from  lieing  unimportant)  of  the  various  commands 
anil  roiiimisHJon.i  wiiieli  wcn^  eouiiued  to  you,  and  the  limited  means  furnished 
tor  tluir  e\ecii1ion — none  who  rendered  more  valuable  8er\'ico  to  the  army  and 
country,  than  j'oursel'".  If  but  a  small  portion  of  our  citizens,  possessing  equal 
f  onsideration  and  influence,  had  exerted  tlie  same  zeal  and  efliciency  in  the  pro- 


i      ! 


tl» 


CIlAriN  S    RLVIEW    OF    ARJISTRON'C.  S 


il     i 


sficutiori  of  tlio  war,  it.  would  doubtless  liavebeen  broii<jlitto  a  more  Bjieedy,  and 
even  a  mure  tialisliictory  t(n-inination. 

I  rcniain,  Dear  Sir,  very  respectfully  yours, 

P.  B.  PORTER. 
C'dI.  C.  CnAri.v. 


«t     V' 


Rf 


I,  t 

I  r: 


BirFFALo,  April  2f;tli,  If^P.f,. 

Siii: — Having  observed  in  your  "NoticcH  of  the  AVar  of  l.Sl'2,"  a  crrtain  nar- 
rative purporting  to  be  from  the  late  Col.  C.  G.  ilcrrstler,  in  ai)pendix  No.  24, 
\it\.  ].  page  Mfi,  Note,  &c.  27i\),  in  wliicli  ho  took  tlio  liberty  of  stating  among 
otiier  things,  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bn-rstler  "knowing  this  man  to  boa  vain 
boasting  liar,  and  suspecting  his  fidelity  from  various  circumstances,  amongst 
wliich  was  that  of  having  joined  a  committee  to  remonstrate  against  tlie  war — 
and  that  of  coming  forward  as  spokesman  in  favor  of  a  man  charged  bj  niany  of 
iiis  neigid)ors  with  giving  intelligence  to  the  enemy,"  &C. 

Of  this  Colonel  Bcurstler,  report  was  current  at  the  time,  that  he  had  been  a 
broken  down  JMethodist  preacher — that  at  the  instance  of  his  friends  he  was 
billeted  on  the  Government  by  which  the  pay  vvould  ensure  him  a  heller  liveli- 
hood than  his  useful  labors  had  done  in  his  clerical  vocation.  Hence  it  is  believed 
that  this  Knight  of  the  Cross  was  willing  to  excliange  tlie  toils  of  a  camp  meet- 
ing for  those  of  the  cliamp  dc  tiiant,  with  a  zeal  not  according  to  knowledge. 
Not,  knowing  of  any  other  person  of  my  name  engaged  in  tlie  war  at  tlio  time 
alluded  to,  I  am  left  to  infer  that  his  abuse  was  aimed  at  me.  if  it  were,  (of 
wliicii  I  have  no  doul)t.)  ^  pronounce  his  account  of  nie  and  my  conduct,  to  be 
a  wanton,  wicked  and  inveterate  lie — uncailiMl  for  and  gratuitous — conceived  in 
ill  will  and  penned  to  gratify  a  cowardly  Kideen — willing  to  assign  his  defeat  to 
■any  but  the  true  cause. 

If  an  officer  in  full  life  can  so  fardemoan  himself — so  far  lose  all  self-respect — 
every  moral  sense,  as  to  cruelly  asperse  the  good  name  of  a  fellow  soklit  r  without 
remorse,  witliout  the  least  assignable  motive,  it  is  doubtlul  whether  the  sanctity 
of  the  srarc  ought  to  protect  his  memory. 

It  is  a  maxim,  founded  1  think,  in  good  sense,  ^'iiot  lo  sjicah  of  the  ilcdihnihss 
veil;"  but  when  the  deceased  has  so  far  witJiered  from  his  duty  while  living  as 
toiry  to  alHx  a  stigma  on  my  character  of  the  complexion  above  referred  to,  it 
does  not,  in  my  best  judgment,  beco.iie  me  to  rest  (juietly  underit,  without  giv- 
ing my  full  and  unequivoeal  denial  of  its  trutls,  eitherin  f()rm  or  substance,  es|)e- 
cially  couung  from  such  a  polluted  source  as  I  conceive  this  did.  None  but  a 
coward's  lirain  could  concoct  such  crudities — none  but  a  demon's  heart  could  give 
utterance  to  sucdi  vile  calumny. 

Tlie  very  fact  alone,  of  his  not  having  j)ublished  his  narrative  during  his  life, 
is  on  the  face  ofil,  to  an  impartial  lover  of  truth,  suspicious.  His  authority  is, 
therefore,  of  no  v:.lue,  nor  are  his  slatfuu'iit.s  to  be  relied  on  in  the  least.  So  fur 
forth  as  relates  to  word  or  deed  of  mine,  hi.s  story  i.s  a  tissue  of  falseiiood  from 
begining  to  tnd — utterly  unworthy  of  belief  by  even  my  worst  enemies,  for  they 
will  testify  Just  the  reverse  of  the  alfair. 


I 


lore  speedy,  autl 

jurs, 

J.  PORTER. 


"  a  ci'i'tiiiii  nar- 
ppendix  No.  24, 
)t'  stating  <ainong 
man  to  be  a  vain 
tances,  uiuojijr.st 
[rainst  tlio  wnr — 
rguil  I)}  many  oi' 

at  lie  had  been  a 
i  iiionds  iie  was 
ini  a  l)etter  liveli- 
jnce  it  is  believed 

1  of  a  camp  meet- 
ig  to  kuowleJgo. 

2  war  at  the  time 

If  it  were,  (of 
ly  conduct,  to  be 
,us; — conceived  in 
sign  his  defeat  to 

I  all  self-respect — 
)w  soldier  without 
ether  the  sanctity 

of  the  ihdil  unless 
.ty  while  living  as 
3vn  referred  to,  it 
lerit,  without  giv- 
)r  substance,  espe- 

did.  None  but  a 
I's  heart  coidd  give 


ive  during  his  hfe, 
His  uulhority  is. 
itiie  least.  So  fur 
I  of  falsehood  from 
t  enemies,  for  they 


It  ? 


f|i 


fe,* 


1 


NUTICKS    OK     THK    WAK. 


41 


Tortunately,  however,  tlierc  are  livSiig  witnesses,  credible  as  any  who  Jield  a 
oomiuissioii  (hiring  tlm  war  of  IHl'J,  and  who  are  actuated  by  a  nobler  spirit  than 
to  traduce  and  slander  me;  and  whose  characters  are  above  reproach  or  suspi- 
cion. There  is,  therefore,  no  shadow  of  excuse  for  such  a  course  of  proceeding 
on  his  part  unless  his  conduct  may  be  a:cribed  to  tiie  eftects  of  insanity. 

When  such  a  narrative  is  ])ut  forth  by  such  an  officer  and  published  to  the 
world  aa  sober  history,  to  be  handed  down  to  those  who  shall  come  after  us— 
when  the  untrutii  of  sucli  a  statement  is  set  out,  to  my  mind,  in  such  bold  and 
palpable  relief — so  derogatory  to  my  character,  J  am  constrained  by  a  sense  of 
duty  for  the  cause  of  truth  and  my  country  to  repel  the  same,  with  indignation. 

In  pages  4G  and  47,  of  your  "Notices,"  &c.,  you  say— "the  errors  which  yet 
remain  to  be  noticed  are  attributable  to  the  administration — a  fact  furnisiiing  no 
reason  why  they  should  be  treated  with  more  ceremony  than  others  with  whom 
they  are  associated." 

Now  Sir,  assuming  your  proposition  to  be  true — permit  me  to  approach  you  in 
like  manner,  when  1  say,  I  think  I  have  just  cause  to  complain  of  that  narrative 
in  its  inception — without  the  slightest  provocation — I  conceive  its  publication 
under  tlie  sanction  of  your  name  as  calling  more  loudly  for  redress.  By  it  my 
feelings  nave  been  outraged,  and  also,  the  feelings  of  my  friends.  I  appeal  to 
your  own  sense  of  honor  if  1  have  not  a  right  to  reparation  from  your  hands?  a 
rei)aration  as  broad  as  the  circulation  of  that  foul  slander  to  which  I  have  called 
your  attention? 

In  the  mean  while,  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

with  due  consideration, 

\our  obedient  servant, 

CYRENIUS  CHAPIN. 

Gen.  .loH."*  AuMSTRO.ftt,  Red  Hook. 


Rkd  Hook,  a2d  May,  1836. 
Sir: — Ym«f  letter  of  the  2Gth  ult.,  was  received  on  the  10th  instant.  The 
narrative  of  the  late  Colonel  Bocrstler,  which  forms  tlie  subject  of  it,  was  in- 
tcnd-vl  as  a  defence  against  certain  statomeiils  to  br  found  in  General  Dearborn's 
official  letter,  in  relation  to  the  unfortunatt-  expedition  made  to  the  Beaver 
Dams  in  the  campaign  of  J8i;{,  which  the  writer  believed  to  have  been  derived 
from  you.  The  narrative,  when  received  at  the  War  Office,  was  accompanied 
by  a  rO(|ucst — that  it  should  be  published  in  the  National  Intelligencer,  "inas- 
much as  tlio  General  had  omitted  t(*  send  his  i  oloncl  Bocrstlcr's)  report  of  the 
expedition,  which  ought  to  have  accompanied  the  General's  statement,  which 
'vas  published  in  that  journal."  Notwithstamiing  the  force  and  fairness  of  this 
appeal,  the  request  was  not  granted,  tiom  a  i>eliof,  that  under  existing  circum- 
stances, the  publicatirn  oi'lhe  narrative  was  not  likely  to  do  good,  and  by  keep- 
ing up  old  (juarrels,  or  generating  new  ones,  might  do  harm.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  but  that  in  this  decision  the  President  exercised  a  discretion  necessarily 
appertaining  to  hiR  office — l)ul  I  need  hardly  remark  to  you,  that  a  writer  of 
G 


-  *■ 


II 


42 


IIIAI'IN  S    RE\IE\V    OF    AHMfiTnONG  tS 


M 


I 


U. 


li'ftory  Ims  no  such  pcwrv  over  w^^!!  f.'.'lliontlcato'l  documrnts.     His  duty  :'.',  to 


Vrc-iO! 


it  al!  til?  ovi;!.Mi."0  Ii"^  is  [ 


10;--';' :;  ;0(1   O 


f  on  any  (;i:'"si1.!on  dp  j;-,;l)!ic  iiit  -rost, 


without  iT[!;r.ri;i;iv  ;!;;  ocaniipj  on  urhviJuaLj  or  co 


ill 


J.;,     ..,[.^.;,,,j.      ^y 


hi;  i'i'lft'i?  p 


o:  ac'i\^;ui.i! 


;ti;i;:liij  rei'ro^f'ii'alirnu  to  rur-h  lifw  an  1  h: 


li;  .:jr  ■  ,\;  ol'  jjro;;!" ,:    ;  viv  r>;;;io  In  hi;;  way.       If  Ij::iy  i:;li>li;io!i  (o  ':   1 ';•:',  iii  \h'  :-ii"- 
ceOwla;ivoi,;iii."s  o/th?  v;:)ik,  aHcrificlmiiM  whic.'i  iii;:v  hrf'uirlv  tin  1  <lH'0'.it!v  niadi; 


(1  ;!■■;;. ■.lire  :,)1)P  R'i  ri/lil, 
■^:!\',  you  can  roa;!iIy  [nc- 


i;;i.');i- w  Ii:;t  1  liavo  v,'rit.t.;'!i:  i:ii.!  it.  'vvili  L'ivc  uio  iiiiT  :;■ 
\vli:r>^  i  ]i;iV('  Iv.ii  wviv.ii:.  \\"Ah  l!.'-  in-oo.'s  yoii  p 
ji.iro  a  ;,l;ot('li  v.l'.ich  will  |ro!>i,it!y  iiiul  pfriiiaiicutly  s'i!'.:'  tho  (p;cs!ioii;-i  atiraiio 
Ir.'iwci'U  \'oii  aji.lKic  late  Col.iu.'l  In-rsthM'.  J  <;ii'.'ii)t.  li.iw,  v.t,  clc.-.s'  tliij  nolo 
wilho'.il  cailiir:  your  ult^'iiliiiii  to  ar.oth:'!'  (lo(  !i:.;i  nt  v.'Iiich  wi'l  ir^ci^i-arily  ap- 
jiivar  ill  Vol.  '.•(!,  in  rrlaliiiii  to  thn  ^ufii-rin'^-s  <^;i  tin,'  Ti'l^'i^-ira  Fnuili  >:•  al'trr  \Vi!- 
jiiii.^oii  !  'ft  Fori  G_'or::(\  'I'li'^  pap;'r  1  r^fcr  to  i  a  iottcr  iVoiii  (I-  n.  ."IijCli:]  ■  to 
th'  AW'/  I)-pa;:.i:,',i1  oft  h^> -j:;!!!  of  L),'CP:ii:;"r,  I'l:;.  !l.  j.kuIo  j-a;-!,  oi'thcMloc:!- 
iii'Mitary  tf.l.inir.iy  ::;:iit  V)  ( 'o'.i;rrt';-H  v.'ith  tiii'  l'r>\  i  i-'iit'i;  ?>Ir;:s:'fr'%  on  thi''.Mul" 
Fi'hniary,  l^M.  anl  ha;:,  (irco'n-.5a,  hopu  hcfj-rc  th^'  p'l:  ii(-  liiic'  tl.itdat'^.  Any 
explanation  f.'oui  y.jii  o:i  t'li-  .■aihj"it  oftiio  uliovo  i-,;M'.ocl  1  tlT,  will  lie  accepta- 
bli;.  ]  a:.i  Sir,  witli  iinicli  r.'.-pcc  t. 

Yoi;r  o'jtviicnt  icrvaiit, 

jotiN  A!{:;sTr.o.x(i. 

Dr.  C\nz:;ii:  C-    .  i.v,  Bullalo. 


>  i>  I'  P  r   •'  i  V 
t  1   i    ij  ;>   if  I  .\  . 


I  J»i' 


Hi 


S 


W  hocvf.T  llirij\v.s  a  tuivli  to  fire  ;i  fov,  i!,  in  Ii  'l:i  Ii  .'^lilv  niisuci';!.- 
l/lo  lor  tlio  <'onsi'i|;  "!!';"s,  ]iii\V('\fr  coMilh  ih"  (]■  li  is  (!:;;'.'•.  'i'li(.> 
attack,  ill  t!i"  ''.XMiin'-,'"  on  iiuiiiy  dI"  iIh,'  tdtic'i.-,  wlio  di- tiiigui.sl)','(l 
tlii'iiisc!'.!'--;  ill  till-  Ink;  v,':ir,  iVi.ni  (iin-  wIim  <i)ic;;  liclil  a  Iiiirli  jilac:' 
under  ill''  ll'.cn  govcriinn'iit,  ilcscrM's  a  i"'\v  <•  "iii'ii  nis.  .Mdf  of 
tli<mc  will)  Ju'ltl  CMu;:iKi:;(l  at  ih:,!  lime,  have  I'lirnds  v,  Iid  will  aviiig'? 
tlu!  iiijiiri's  sounht  In  l:a\t;  Lirii  inlliclcd  on  du  ,'r  iiiciiinrics.  Of 
.'■iicli,  til  :i  i".  ud  .  w  ill  Im;  ciirollcd  liy  nW.rr  hands  lliaii  l!a:  writer  of 
llies"  irigi's — "llje  r;ie(  .' 1  )nnglass  can  i)rot>'cl  ilM  ji'."  'I'hi' writer 
wed  l;n' \v  (i  !  r;i!  1 1,  ;iil;(n'ii,  and  is  Inpitv  to  sas  ilia*  i.iiieli  mnv 
1j(^  s:'dd  in  111-  I'avor.  ( tj'  this,  iKjwevr,  ids  Idn.  riidi'-r  will  avail 
liin;..e|i'.  It  i-,  dii  •  to  Iiis  iiKiii. ry  tn  slat",  l':at  Ii.  was  a  man  of  a 
clear  lr:id,  a  .-truii^'  mind  and  a  li,'^;li  and  luave  .-j'.it.  I'laiii  mid 
ailahli)  in  Ins  iiiaiin(.'rs — willi  sajjacitv  cijiial  to  dv  \  i.-i;  tiny  wcll-cun- 
c^ivcd  plan  of  njieration-,  mid  nerve  to  carry  it  iiilo  clli:ct.     Dislin- 


i 


liiv 


N.jTlCl^ii   DP    THK     W.Vil. 


if  i;r.!)lic  iiitorost, 
-r'ill  r.-^  :'^rv;n'x  to 
'i  liow  aiil  liij;lipr 


iro  :,)!)r  ,Tt  r.'.'ljl, 
;;  f:tii  n':,:l:]y  prr- 
';!;(■:>!  ion.-;  atis.-aue 
'1%  (•H.'S'i  iJiij  iiolc^ 
I'l  )i-^r(';-;ii:';!y  ap- 
rouli:':-;;;'!;!-  Wil. 
(!•!!.  :■!<;{ 'li:n.  to 

i':i:-!.i);'lh(<(l,)c:'- 
"■JJT'S  oil  tl.c'.Muf 
•  (!ut.laf.\   Any 

will  !).?  acci'iita- 


{.isTr.o.xd. 


illy  .''.nsuci-;'.- 

s  (iw;....  'i'J„, 
<li-liligiii.slK'(l 
;»  liisr'i  i'!;ic(,' 

lis.        .Mo'.f    of 

II  will  ;i\ci;g(! 
[■liiorirs.  {)[' 
liic  v.rifiT  t)i' 

'I'll''  Wl'iliT 
I'  i.iiH'li  iiiav 
'  r  V.  ill  avail 
s  a  mail  ni"  ;i 
i'iaiii  and 
my  wi'll-cou- 
•x-.t.     Diftiii' 


•>iu  i!:ou  in  two  war,:,  wherein  hi.;  countrv  h;i;l  vn.-it  ilitel'ost^;  at  stal:e, 
it  u  just  t'j  Kay  of  liiiii,  that  he  was  th.'  pridj  of  tiio  urr.iy  ar.d  a 
bi.'i.ciaclui'  t'j  tliL!  Luid  <if  iiis  [jii'ili.  ?.Iu'jh  of  tho  i!i^a.^t;;:'.s  of  t!:c! 
la'i',:  war,  was  Jiiytly  chargijablc  upon  hia  hUi'.orijra  in  oflico.  It  is 
easy  of  [,roof,  at  tlii.-;  lat^j  day,  that  bcfon.-  orcL';".-;  arrived  ;U  the  plac;.^ 
of  hi.s  <);!(.' ralloii:^,  counter  orc'a'r.s  wero  rcceivc'd  l)y  him.  Under 
sueh  enil):uTa^-sii;g  circnnistanees,  cou'itl  any  thing  hut  failure  bo  an- 
t;ciiiat:'d^  [t  i.j  v.ortliy  of  jT-ear!:,  that  he  v.as  la'pi;  in  a  harr;'.s.sed 
.-itate  of  laind,  a  l>-'.rge  part  of  the'  liiae  ho  was  on  ih:-;  fron;!er,  and  it 
i.s  believed,  t;;;!t  t'ais  wa^  ell'-Cted,  in  a  givat  nveasuri>,  by  one  who 
now  see!;.-;  to  sliu'  hi.-;  [a.ino. 

Thc!  al'aek,  in  the  "Xotices,''  on  (Icnoral  Harrison,  de.;:ervc3  tlic 
)f[)r;Hja[ion  of  every  honcjst  r.ian  in  Christ,  ndoi.i.  The  perver.eon 
iif  truth,  is  apjiare'it  on  every  l-^g  ■•  ^Vilat  earl'ily  inelive  the  au- 
thor could  lja\e,  i:;  r.  it  di:.;cGverah;e,  in;!: .;:,;  it  he  I'or  [;o!ilio:d  elf  e,t. 
If  .so,  CJen:'r;d  ilarri.':)n,  how^'veriic  might  de.-;u..;e  tliecilort  to  .■•■.lan- 
diT  iiim,  ine.y  n.'st  assurer-!,  t!i:it  fifty  se.eii  !:i-torian.^,  would  only 
I'aise  him,  in  the  e.stiinatiori  of  all  uiei'.,  wlio:-.e  g  )od  opinion.^  are 
worlli  having.  AIlu.  ion  h  m'^',  hov/ever,  i:;  on'y  to  the  condu.-tof 
(hneral  I'arri  i.i,  il>:  an  oiiieer  (hiring  the  1  ele  war  with  CJreat 
.1'ritain;  anil  it  i.;  cjuedly  da.',  as  wi  11  t:)  hiie,  a.;  !o  th-  eau.e  of 
1ru'h  and  jn.-ti'.'i',  ihaL  una.  r  a.ll  dihie'.iities  whieh  I;  '  h:id  l.)  ovrr- 
(•.o:ne,  he  e.eted  his  parlu-eil — ven'N  w.dl  indei'.l,  and  l!u:  wrctc'n  that 
si'id;j^  to  sully  his  g 'od  n:iie.:',  imd.'r  the  sp;:eious  g-ali  of  iinpar'.ial 
l•,i.^lory,  is  entitled  to  a  seal  in  e.  m:id  ho;!se.  I'n.I  r  tii..' e.nharrassiiig 
cir<'uiiis!;ine''s  in  whieh  li;;  v,a.;  plae-d,  siuh  a:-;  ih  '  alme.;t  inipassa- 
hie  ro:nl-; — t!ie  w.uit  of  .'■Up;. lies  of  evTy  hind — ;i  war\  aie!  str.ag;! 
for,  efi.selv  wjitehii'.g  ills  iiMvcini'i:!;;,  it  i;)  ;i  nuUier  of  admirati  >:i, 
that  he  sue":>.'di'd,  a:;  well  ;;s  he'  did.  .Ml  (he  pre'ininenf  o|h;ers  as- 
soci;ited  wilh  him,  at  tli;it  ti.ne,  hiar  unequivocal  testimony,  to  his 
g.)otI  (•oiidiiei,  ill.'  I.  .ult  of  cool  and  iL-f.  rniinetl  bravery,  uri  well  as 
ind"fatlgal)!c  iudnslr\  joined  with  .a  sound  and  unfailing  di'icrctioii. 
Long,  iherefore,  will  his  ineiiiory  b"  ch.ri  .h;'d,  as  ani.mg  the  w  or- 
tliios  of  the  land — by  his  eonip.'itri.its  in  arm.-,  and  .a  gralefiit  people. 
Somo  future  liistoria:!,  will  do  jii-tli'.'  to  his  d  ed,;  when  the  partisan 
•scribbler,  Wiih  his  unworthy  sland.'r  ,s!iall  have  sunk  m!o  nierited 
oblivion. 

None  till!  II  rulliarj  can  lake  d.'l'ght  in  the  invasion  of  the  sano- 
luarv  of  ill..'  deud.     I'eace  to  their  ivAw:-,  should  b;-  the  motto  of  every 


in 


44 


lIIAriN  S    REVIEW    OK    AKMSTRONO  « 


'U 


i  ? 


I 


t  < 


I!  I  '  :^: 


i. 


t   ^.! 


good  man.  Jlut  there  are  provocations  forming  exceptions  to  tlie 
case  considered.  Colonel  Ban-stler's  memory,  therefore,  has  somo 
claims  upon  sympathy — hy  his  own  sliowisig.  In  a  note  accompa- 
nying his  staten\ent,  as  published  in  his  "Notices,"  he  exhibits  much 
nervous  irritability,  while  holding  an  interview  with  General  Lewis, 
iu  which  he  shows  more  warmth  of  temper  than  would  exactly  com- 
port with  sound  judgment,  or  historical  accuracy.  It  then  may  be 
sately  inferred,  that  he,  himself,  was  then  in  such  a  paroxysm  of 
rage,  as  to  cleave  down  the  necessary  balance  ol  judgment  or  just 
perception.  Anger  appears  to  have  unhingi'd  his  faculties,  and  dis- 
appointment ill  his  favorite  project,  appears  to  have  so.iredthc  inner 
man.  Some  allowance,  therefore,  may  bo  safely  made  for  his  im- 
pressions, under  the  eiirumstr  ces  in  which  he  was  placed.  Again, 
the  terror-struck  appearance  he  exhiliited  when  rid''ig  alone  towards 
"  Major  Chapin,-'  and  while  attempting  to  inform  the  .nen  that  'V/<c?/ 
were  attacked,'^  (as  sworn  to  i>y  James  Rouse  and  Jonathan  Dibble- 
see  foregiMiig  affidavits,)  a  fact,  by  the  bye,  as  well  known  to  the 
men  as  to  him,  (l>u'rstler,)  and  which  clearly  shows,  that  ho  (l?QM\st- 
]er)  was  so  near  insanity,  that  the  ditlerence  between  it  and  the  con- 
trary, was  not  p(;rceptiblf.  Ilcro  tlinn  W(!  have;  his  veracity  im- 
peached, by  his  own  .slatenieiit,  of  liow  angry  a  mood,  he  could  fall 
into  on  so  frivolous  a  provocation,  mid  the  alienation  of  mind,  pro- 
duced oy  ff^a"",  as  established  by  two  credible  eye-witnesses. 

Again,  this  fop  of  a  Ikerstli.-r  says,  that  "on  '-iMd  June,  1813,  sol 
disunt  Major  Chapin  called  at  the  tent  of  Lieiitenant-Colon'd  lUj-rst- 
ler,"  *.S:c.  ».^:c. 

The  vanity  of  BcerstUir  here  explodrd.  The  writer  had  a  regular 
commission  of  Major  while  Kustis  was  Secretary  of  War,  derived 
from  the  saim;  appointing  power  that  iiieiiteiuint-Colonel  (Uohadil) 
Boerstler  did  his.  He  must  therefort;  be  Lieufenant-C'olonel,  mi 
disanf,  or  self-stylt.Ml,  as  much  as  INFajor  ('haj)iii.  It  matters  not  for 
his  iiorry  attempt  at  burlL'S(|U(; — that  does  not  occasion  the  least 
trouble.  This  rircumstance  is  only  referred  to  show  the  mean  con- 
temptible spirit  that  actuated  the  man,  how  careful  to  speak  of  him- 
self in  the  third  person,  ami  then  attempt  to  make  others  believe  that 
"Major  Chapin"  boasted  of  a  title,  a  fact  which  never  exis.ej^ — and 
more,  to  show  how  much  reliunee  is  to  be  placed  (ui  the  statenuuit  of 
a  man,  who  by  his  own  narratives,  shows  himsedf  to  he,  in  temper, 
n  Don  Orlando  Furiosn  towards  (^Jenrrnl  J<€wis — a  sneaking  pnl- 


I 


scoplions  to  the 
fore,  liaa  somo 
note  accompa- 
sexliiljitsniuch 
Jenerul  Lewis, 
d  exactly  corn- 
It  then  may  be 
a  paroxysm  of 
dgment  or  just 
uhies,  and  dis- 
Mred  the  inner 
do  for  Ill's  im- 
iced.     Again, 
alone  towards 
ncn  tliat  '■Hhey 
than  Dihhle^ 
known  to  th(^ 
Kit  he  (J?QM\st- 
t  and  the  con- 
vcrncity  im- 
hc  coidd  fall 
of  mind,  pro- 
sses. 

lie,   1813,  sot 
)lonel  l^QTst- 


"^B 


had  a  regular 
>^  ar,  (N'rived 
cl  (liohadil) 
•('olonol,  soi 
liters  not  for 
ion  the  least 
e  mean  eon- 
jeak  of  hirn- 
helieve  that 
xis.ej^ — and 
stat<  inent  of 
'»  in  temper, 
leaking  pnl- 


1 


■.;■! 


I  'i 


■*.i- 


■    f. 


Nip'llCEs    or    TlIK    WAR. 


45 


tf-mn  wlieii  aftacli'il  by  a  lew  straggling  Indians,  and  a  pvovarioating 
coxconil)  when  speaking  of  LiciUenant-Colonol  Hn-istler,  in  a  ootn- 
innnii^ation  ojjicialc,  signed  by  his  high  mightiness. 

In  tlic  No.  preceding  this  24th,  in  the  Appendix  of  said  "Notices," 
is  a  letter  purporting  to  have  been  written  by  said  Armstrong,  who 
was  then  cither  acting  or  real  Secretary  of  War,  and  who  must  have 
known  that  "Major  Chapiii,''  during  said  Armstrong's  official  term, 
had  and  held  a  Colonel's  commission.  Then,  why,  it  may  bo  asked, 
did  said  Armstrong  gather  the^  statement  of  Boerstler,  out  of  which 
to  weave  his  web  of  history?  The  answer  is  obvious — ho  must 
have  intended  to  "catch  flics."'  The  burden  of  BoersMcr's  song  is, 
to  ex(niorato  himself  from  the  charge  of  want  of  Generalship  in  his 
conduct  at  the  time  mentioned,  and  to  assign  the  cause  of  his  defeat, 
to  any  other  than  the  true  one. 

'I.'he  unparalleled  in)[)udcnce  of  ]J(i;rstler  most  strikingly  appears 
in  a  following  paragraph. 

"liifutenant-Colonel  Ba'.rstler  knowing  this  man  to  be  a  vain 
boastling  liar,  and  suspecting  his  lidelity,  from  various  circumstan- 
ces, amongst  which  was  that  of  havmg  joined  a  committee  to  remon- 
strate against  the  war,  and  that  of  coming  forv.ard  us  spokesman, 
in  favor  of  a  man  charged  by  many  of  liis  neighbors,  with  giving 
intelligence  to  the  enemy — ho  wns  heard  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Mrerstler  with  indifll-rencc,  and  disnussed  with  coolness.'-' 

Here  BdU'stler  assumes  that  he  knows  certain  things  without  giv- 
ing any  probable  caus(5  for  such  knowledge;  and  moreover,  at- 
tempting to  be  wiser  than  any  of  his  acquaintance.  An  answer  to 
this  knowledge  may  be  uecisividy  given  by  referring  to  the  certifi- 
ralo  of  iMr.  Waldeii  and  others.  As  to  his  suspicions  whether  they 
were  prompted  by  his  anger  or  fear,  it  matters  not;  one  thing  is 
certain,  if  any  v.cll-grounded  suspicions  were  liad  by  BoM'stlcr,  why 
did  he  not  cause  the  immediate  arrest  of  said  Chnpin,  and  iiavo  him 
tried?  \Vhat  will  the  world  think  of  u  brave  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
wiio  should  so  fnr  forget  his  duty  to  his  country,  as  to  suffer  a  soi 
disanf  ofliccr  to  pass  around  the  lino  of  encampment — to  "hear  him 
with  indifference,  and  dismiss  him  with  coolness?"  This  statement 
either  carries  falsehood  on  the  face  of  it,  or  else  Ba^rstler  was  a  trai- 
tor to  his  trust. 

As  has  already  born  said,  it  is  ungenerous  to  invade  the  precincts 
of  the  tomb.     Were  Rtrrstler  alivr,  he  would  disavow  the  narrative, 


i 


*  1^ 


ci;  \: 


ii;;\i::\v   or  Ai'.'.u;i'Ro\ti  s 


i  V 


i!!(;  ):!';i:- 


•t.  as 

•OVC.i    IiV 


w;'. 


hv   i.i 


aiiu 


'  '•••'-',■ 


t  )\v:in.i:;  (.Iciioral  li^'.wis — 1 


ji/l<>  oi  ;•. 


l^'W   :;::i:  I 


!id   li: 


ii.-i 


iliuri'-;,  aim 


'.i.-.;iiei  );i-  <  1  li 


would  IMt,   ii"  .1: 


n.i.iity,  as  I;  ^  riilii'iu.;  li,;  \va.<  oi"  ".Uaj or  (Jiiapin,""'  li 


r..ivo  ti 


artLiui;-!!!  t. 


tl 


Luiij  111  Iks  pre- 


St'iiCl" 


It 


[S    V.'I'.V    It'.'f 


(j.rai'iv  ;:ii;) 


crt'iut,  that  i'li'i'.si;.,  r  was  a  iiiaii  su; 


\vn,  if  tlio  narrator  is  worthy  of 
L  ti)  fits  oi"  viul:Mn  anger — a 


S> 


victii'.i  t(j  fi'ar — a  slave  to  unv,  arvaiiJab!;.;  sii.:[):cirHi.;,  ar.ii  above  all, 
an  inio!(-r;;')iy  va;:i  n:an.  in  t!iis  vi^w  (jf  ih.-  su'oii't;;,  t'ao  (juestion 
recurs — to  \v!;;it  'J>\^iv(;  of  crc.iitis  his  :-;atoniO!;t  i'utilli;>l'  It  is  bn- 
liovc;!,  to  n  )n(\  iftlie  writ..r  lias  siicc('c;'t:il  in  ovcrtlirowiiig  his 
cro<l:t,  it  i'-  tlinagbt  th"  cr<;!l"t  of  tI;o  '■•IsoV.v  ■^.■' is  .- lialccn  to  tli(3  can- 
tn — for  it  is  bclii.'vid  in  coniir.on  aifairs  of  life,  if  a  witness  is  im- 
pi'acJunl  in  material  points,  his  w'aulo  oNiv.'iico  f  I'is  to  tli  '  groan:!. 

Wliat  ac..-"ssion  ti.-n,  it  may  be:  a  k.'d,  i.i  ihi-;  "Notices"  to  tho 
rich  niine  of  hist  )r:csl  knowlodg"'?  in  tlu'  cvcntfu!  days  referred  to, 
in  tiieir  pag"s,  may  it  not  safely  b^  i.iferr  •],  tl;it  nii'cii,  very  in'-ich 
of  discoloring  of  facts,  has  been  ;iidn!g  d  Int  Whether  this  hap- 
pened through  ni;il:ce  or  ignorance,  is  a  matter  of  whicli,  tho  public 
arc  the  better  iudn;es. 

The  iiKiii  u  !io  iiidu't'  s  ia  a  hive  of  tiie  i.Kirvtdlonii — or  who  seidis 
lo  ridicul'-^  ihoso  wlioin  he  ciiiinot  equal  in  virtue,  is  upon  the  whole 
view  iif  the  ease,  a  b -iny  to  be  pitii:d  rather  than  (-nvi  'd.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  an  i!nnea..;!uiK'nt  of  the  veraeily  of  the  "Notices"  is  sub- 
stantiedly  mad;;  out:  at  eiiy  rate,  so  far  fu'ih  iv.^  tiie  writer  himsill', 
is  concerned,  it  is  a  pour  Cvcu  :0  to  p!e;i  1  i^-norauc;  of  facts,  while 
they  are  within  tlie  reacli  of  a  historian,  and  a  most  wretched  expe- 
dient to  substitute  fiction  f)r  Irulh,  or  ^iarca  an  I'oc  candiil  inference. 
[iCave  is  now  taken  ot' t!ie  subi"cl  for  the  pres^'iit,  with  a  wish  tliat 
the  author  of  the' "Xotices*'  may  rest  satisiled  with  his  laurels  won, 
cither  as  a  soldier  or  historian,  in  that  retirement,  from  which  In; 
ought  not  to  iiave  emerged,  in  compassion  to  liis  repu1ati<jn. 

Nothing  mm'c  Jn  eil,  perhaps,  lie  udi'ed,  unless  somilhing  like  tin; 
furow  ingcNti'ac'. 

"What  is  i'.istory?  Is  ii  tlw  elotpienee  of  fdvy — the  shrew  (Iness 
of  Tacitus,  I'V  the  |pro|"(innd  sen.-edl'  rcjlybius?  .Not  only  those  who 
liave  participated  in  ih';  condiiet  of  national  all'urs,  but  those  also, 
whose  attention  has  ije'cii  engrossed  b\  per  .on  d  concerns,  cannot 
have  Hiiled  to  observe,  tlial  fads,  as  widl  as  motives,  are  freque-nlly 
niisreinrsontcd — that  events  are   attributed  to  causes  whicIi  never 


NOTICnS    01."    Til!:    WAU. 


4i 


:-i-:i!  L':v,-i.s — lii.-i 
ill  Intiiaii'-;,  aiul 
jr  ('iKipiii,"-'  lu' 
iiuDj  i;i  his  prc- 
tor  is  wcvi'thy  of 
lohin  anger — a 
,  ar.ii  abDvc  all, 

Ct,   tllC  (jllCjti-,)!! 

ilL'il?  If  is  bn- 
I'fi'tlirowiiig  lui.; 
i.'ica  t(j  tlx'  cTMi- 
i  w  iiiioss  is  iin- 
)  til !  gm;in;l. 
\'oticcs"  to  (hi: 
ays  roirrrcd  to, 
'cii,  very  much 
I'tli.'f  tiiis  ha])- 
hich,  t!i(;  public 

— or  who  s.'cks 

upon  tli(3  \vho!i> 

vi  'd.     It  is  Ik> 

otici's"  is  sab- 

vrilci'  himsi  ir, 

ol"  facts,  v.hilo 

vreichcJ  e\pe- 

iili.l  iiiiVrciicf^. 

ith  a  wish  fiiat 

s  lauii'Is  Wdii, 

froiu  whl(_'h  ho 

talion. 

•  ihiiig  like  the 

0  shrewdness 
ally  those  wlio 
lit  those  also, 
ciTiis,  cannot 
in;  frequently 

which  never 


existed,  while  llio  "c;".!  causcjj  rcMKiia  eo)iG'.':v!  \\.  riVsLiiMptiouy 
writers,  air'cli;!t^  ki'.owledyo  they  do  mA.  posscris,  uiidci'takc 
to  instruct  i;i:iiii.iiid  i-y  sjieclo;;s  ttorics  fuund^'J  on  idle  nun'.'r 
and  vague   coi!ji\;lure.      T1j.>:;.i   v.  ho    are   well    infoniicd   smile    at 

ddce.'.'s:  it  seems. 


the  iollv.    (Ireat  hiinds  ui:.;i.l.iin  t;')  t,';!  thoi:.'  own  :;  )0 

o 


nior(y)ver,  to  thosij  v/liO  litivc  ;;;ai 


wl  ..• 


.,', 


P't'DuC  huicaiess,  almost  nu- 


nossibh;  tliat  the  tiillo  tattle  of  ignoraac;.:  shouhl  meet  wilh  beliel". 
Novertheloss,  such  writing's,  tli ougli  sheltered  by  coiitcinpt,  iVuni 
c:.n;eniporaiioous  contr;iiJicl.:on,  are  raked  out,  ia  a  succccdisiy  age, 
iVom  uhe  asl;es  of  oblivion,  iind  ieli..d  on  as  aalhorily.  History, 
cvvaipiied  fro;n  such  materials,  can  hardly  teach  l!;e  sei.  nc;  (jf  hu- 
laaa  nature.  It  is,  at  b.:.  t,  an  euterlaiiiing  ikjA'cI  v/ilh  ihj  oriauneiit 
of  real  names.  I'hilosopliy,  iirleed,  a!  a  later  day,  may  bring  her 
balance  of  [)ro'.):ibility,  put  the  evidviic.'  of  oilicial  facts  in  diilbrent 
scales,  an(l  deduce  fair-seeming  coni.dusioiis  from  an  assumed  pnan- 
ciple  that  man  is  a  ralionj.l  creature.  Dut  is  fli;it  assnm[ition  just? 
or,  rather,  does  i;ot  history  sbovr,  ai:d  e\pei'ience  ]!rove,  that  he  is 
swajed  (rom  th"  course  Vv-liieli  reason  indicates,  by  passion,  by  iuiio- 
kaice,  aiid  even  caprice?  When  the  foundation  is  i'alse,  the  super- 
structure must  fall.  Hiich  v/ritiiigs,  tk^aefore,  Iiowever  illumined 
by  the  rays  of  gi^nius,  or  adorned  by  the  charms  of  st}le,  instead  of 
shi.iwing  man  a  just  image  of  Vv  hat  he  is,  will  frequently  exhibit  the 
delusive  semblance  of  v.  hat  Ir.'  is  not." — (Fan.  d'cr.  Alurria^  Din. 
lo  N.   Y.  Hist.  l^nr.  Alh  lycplnuhrr,  I'^JiO,  p.  -1,  o. 

Il"  there  is  I'oree  in  the  foregoing  ilcseriplion,  of  what  history  frc- 
(pieiiily  is,  and  mo!'eover,  v.hat  it  ought  to  be,  it  is  hoped  that  those 
interested,  may  profit  by  the  delineation,  tvj  far  as  relates  to  the 
••i\'oticns,"  it  may  widl  be  wished,  that  truth  and  candor  will  hore- 
a!K  r,  always  have  a  due  share;  of  inljiience  on  tlic  conduct  of  such  as 
shall  be  desirous  of  giving  an  impartial  history  of  our  "beloved 
country,"  and  its  invaluable  institutions,  as  well  as  of  the  conduct  of 
the  actors  in  the  gi'eat  struggle  for  iiid>'[)eailence,  iVom  'lie  dawn  of 
the  revolution,  to  the  latest  day  (jf  its  political  existence.  \\'iih  this 
view,  the  subject  of  the  "Notices*'  will  be  (lismiss(;d,  in  doing  which, 
ihe  writer  will  (ady  a-k  such  indulgaiee  towards  him,  as  would  bo 
accorded  to  any  other  citi/en,  under  like  circumstaiic;'s — to  Jiear  his 
:lutcnienls,  and  pa>s  that  opinion  upcai  his  conduct  during  the  war; 
'ho  late  atlacdc  U[i  >n  his  character,  in  the  "Notices,'' before  referred 


'IH 


t  iivriN  s  r.Evih:\v  or   AKMSTKONr.  a 


lo,  in  this  iK'loncc,  nud  lie  will  cheerfully  abide  the  result  to  wliioh 
the  candid  reader  slu' 11  arrive. 


'?!, 


i  ■'",: 


i    ■! 


The  imblie.-itioii  of  the  following  remarks,  though  out  of  place,  aud 
delayed  by  cireuuistariccs  not  under  my  control,  will  not  appear  im- 
proper here:  and  though  I  purpose  to  be  concise  and  pertinent,  my 
intention  is  to  redeem  tiie  promise  1  made  to  remind  Mr.  Armstrong 
of  some  facts,  aud  to  make  some  .suggestions,  with  a  view  to  his 
greater  accuracy  and  more  particular  detail,  should  he  put  forth  a 
second  volume  of  his  "Notices  of  the  War,"'  which  from  his  lirst  he 
has  led  the  public  to  <'.\pect.  1  sincerely  hope,  the  following  obser- 
vations and  facts,  may  heuelit  hitu,  and  also  I'acilitate  his  labors. 

The  first,  the  greatest  object  in  the  progress  of  war — the  primary 
and  most  sacred  duty  of  ihose  who  havu  the  control  when  a  country 
is  about  to  be  attacked  or  invaded,  is,  the  protection  and  security  of 
the  National  Edifices,  Archieves  and  Functionaries.  History  informs 
us,  that  in  Europe,  they  were  subjects  of  spi'cial  care  and  provision — 
secured  and  protected  from  all  danger — i'rom  riots  and  even  from 
disorder. 

In  cas(;s  when  ilclV'nce  by  force  against  the  invader  had  become 
impossible,  resort  lo  trmity  has  been  uniform,  and  generally  avail- 
ing. Two  modem  cases  may  be  seen  at  one  glance — the  destruc- 
tion of  Moscow  by  its  owners — of  Washington  by  the  invader. 
With  the  former,  treaty — negotiation  was  out  of  the  question.  Jt 
was  a  war  i'or  submission  or  extermination — slaves  fighting  slaves — 
both  commanded  by  despots.  With  the  latter,  freemen,  citizens, 
were  defending  against  those,  who  at  least,  profess  to  be  free — both 
commanded  by  otiicers  who  ought,  and  who  did  profess  to  be  enlight- 
ened and  humane — on  our  side  they  were  such.  It  was  understood 
that  negotiation  was  adopted  or  attempted;  if  so,  the  cause  of  its 
failure  is  not  known  generally.  AVashington  was  abandoned  by  its 
defenders,  and,  to  the  astonishment  of  its  inhabitants,  on  the  '24th 
day  of  August,  lbl4,  the  capitolof  these  United  States,  the  house  of 
the  President,  <kc.,  were  destroyed  by  fire.  The  next  day,  the 
British  left  the  city,  and  in  their  own  time,  returned,  unmolested  to 
their  shipping. 


^ 


result  lo  wliioli 


NOTIcr.S    0.'    THE    \SAF.. 


49 


)Ut  of  placu,  aii(J 
1  not  Jippcar  iin- 
d  pertinent,  my 
Mr.  Armstrong 
1  a  view  to  his 
d  he  nut  forth  a 
from  his  lirst  he 
following  obscr- 
0  his  labors, 
.r — the  primary 
when  a  country 

and  security  of 
History  informs 
and  provision — 

and  even  from 

Icr  had  become 
!;<'norally  avail- 
c — the  destruc- 
y  the  invader, 
e  question.     Jt 

ifing  slaves — 
men,   citizens, 

be  free — both 
s  to  becnlight- 
vas  understood 
le  cause  of  its 
andoncd  by  its 
s,  on  the  '24th 
■-,  the  house  of 
ne\t   day,    the 

unmolested  to 


It  has  been  well  and  truly  saiil  by  an  accurate  and  unbiassed  his- 
torian, that  "till!  capture  of  \V;isliiiigton  renected  disgracj  upon 
thi'      '>v  whom  it  ought  to  have  bicu  (Icfeiidcd." 

\Vh('th(;r  this  disgraceful  atl'ur  was  in  fact  the  rcailtof  'Sir.  Arm- 
strong's conduct — his  igiioranf.c — his  imbeciiily — iasanily,  or  moral 
profligacv,  1  am  not  ;d»!i!  lo  dctcrniiin'.  .Many  facts  were  tlun'e  known, 
and  more  rumors  were  adoit.  \\'li"ther  his  baseness  was  distinctly 
known  to  the  Executive,  or  m'M'ely  distrusted,  and  the  subject  of 
opinion  and  general  report,  is  not  now  material  to  the  public,  or  to 
Armstrong  bimsell",  or  his  posterity.  IJowever  it  may  have  been, 
the  President,  no  doubt,  dclerminod  and  conducted  propcrlv  and  with 
discretion.     I  [ad  tli 're  been  spfcilii;  evidence,    it    would,   dou')tles9, 


have  b(;en  made  tli"  subject  o 


and  formal  investigation,  unless 


considered  improper  and  unnecessary  from  tlu^  character  and  mag- 
nitude of  the  olfenee,  or  the  iusigniiii-ance  of  the  oilender.  As  the 
matter  now  stands,  hi ;  name  and  character,  will  of  course  be,  handed 
down,  by  tiie  historian,  with  stioiig  imputation,  if  not  stigma.  Tho 
hostile  approach  of  the  enomy,  ;iiul  the  [irobablc  extent  of  their  force, 
had,  or  should  lia\e  been,  for  some  time  known  at  tiie  Department. 
VVhv  then  wei'<!  not  lueans  pro\  ided — eiFectual  measures  |)romptly 
taken  to  ensm'e  tlu;  safety — tlir*  s.dvation  of  tho  capito),  and  the  pro- 
perty appcrtinent,  of  such  inertleulablo  vahic  to  tho  nation,  at  the 
time,  and  for  sueceiding  ag"s?  Nothing  can  ever  replace  or  restore 
tho  Hbraries — the  specimens  of  tlu;  works  of  taste,  tho  arts  and 
sciences,  cVc,  which  were  destroyed.  Xo  money  can  repay  their 
valu(\ 

It  is  consolation  however,  to  evi'ry  .Ijurr/nm  cili.ia,  tliat  tlie  I'li- 
ecuti\e  (lid.  upon  tin;  n''\t  eipuvciition  ofthe  ap[)oinling  power,  cause 
the  Secretary  to  \y:  n-movi  d,  and  tbwt  important  ollice  to  be  filled  by 
a  more  trust-worthy  ineumbi'ut — \Viiliam  If.  Crawford.  .^Ir.  Arm- 
strong then  had  the  privilege  to  refiie  with  the  spioils  of  oHice,  if  not 
ofthe  I'uemy,  to  W^'^  Hook — thiri',  without  intrusion  or  disturbance, 
to  reviow  bis  \arious  ae( ,  and  doing-^,  and  to  pondir  upon  the 
vicissitudes  ol' lifo  and  lortune,  and  ujsoii  his  own  frailties.  One 
more  suggestion,  and  for  the  present,  at  least,  I  shall  consider  my- 
self, at  liberty  to  leave  Mr.  Anu'^trong  in  t!;e  (|u  o;  and  uninterrupt- 
ed 0('cunan(  y  ol"  hi-;  d  iinieili-  and  family  friends  in  1  Hitchess. 

When  I  wa-,  by  biiu,  a 'eiiseil  of  beinrx  "a  van  toasting  liar — a 
'.U)wanl — a  irailor  to  my  country,"'  A;c  ;   wlien  he  iiail  given  puhli- 


50 


CHAPIN  3    REVIF.W. 


i  ■-• 
I 

\     t 


•  It    , 


I ' 


City  and  pLM'manency  to  tliose  accusations  in  the  shape  of  historicrii 
"Noticos  of  tho  War,"  dcsignocl  for  posterity,  I  did  not  appeal  U. 
and  rely  upon  my  friends  and  fellow-citizens  exclusively.  Their 
<-'vidcnce  niiglit  have  been  considered  or  represented  as  too  feeblu, 
pcrhap?;  tainted  with  friendship  or  jiartiajity.  I  had  resort  to  thv 
testimony  of  the  enemy.  Captain  Fit/gibbon — the  British  offi- 
cer, to  whom  I,  with  my  select  corps  of  sharp-shooters,  was  sur- 
rendered l)y  ^fr.  Armstrong's  favored  friend,  and  the  authority  for 
his  libels,  Pxerstler — In;  willingly  and  most  promptly  step[)ed  for- 
ward and  certified  against  those  libels  of  this  our  own  i)rofesse<l 
historian. 

Sifuat(,'d  as  ^Ir.  Armstrong  was  at  tho  time — Secretary  at  War 
of  the  United  States,  he,  of  course,  can  reailily  command  their  cer- 
tificates of  his  patriotism — his  devotion  to  his  country,  its  rights  and 
its  preservation.  They  were,  nnf]Ut;stionabIy,  manifested  to  thost- 
otBeers  at  the  time.  If  not,  hi-i  situation  is  certainly  not  now  envi^ 
ble.  lie  can  tind  relief  antl  consolation,  only,  in  the  reflection  that 
this  is  a  world  of  vice  and  misery,  filled  with  ungrateful  unfeeling 
nicn,  clothed  with  the  ensigna  of  wealth  and  ofiicial  station.  There 
I  shall  leave  him  to  repose;,  t^lniu'id  he  deem  it  necessary  or  feasi- 
ble further  to  attack  my  character  o_^r  my  conduct,  or  require  of  me 
personally,  either  advice,  information  or  chastisement,  [  shall  at  all 
times,  hold  myself  in  readiness  to  answer  his  call;  mean  while,  re- 
majning  as  usual,  tlie  public's  humble  servant, 

CYllEiNIllS  CIIAPIN. 

Bujfalo,  Scptcmhcr,  22d,  1830. 


Krrata. — Pagfo  0,  in  rnmarks  followincf  oxtrarls  from  Armstronfr's  'Xoticea- 
3d  linn  t'roiii  coiniiienccment,  instoaii  of  ''bi'lbro  the  cxjiedition  ordorcd  out," 
read  "lictoro  llu'  pxpcditiou  iras  ordered  out,"  iVo.  Same  pafjp,  5(11  lim;  in  re- 
marks, iubtead  of  '-wliat  tin'  expedition,"  read  "llial  tli(!  cxpeditmn,"  Ac.  rafr*- 
Ul,  lltli  Iiik;  fioin  top,  instead  ot'-tiio  President  exercised  n  diserelion  neccssa- 
ly,"  read  "tho  ['resident  exercised  a  discretion  iii(i'.<.iiinlii,"  &c.  l'af;o  ',\7,  4t>' 
line  from  toj),  insti'ud  nf  '•!  or^ranised,  controlled  and  assisted  to  retake,"  reati 
"I  or^ranised,  controlled  and  assisted  ii  piirhj  to  retake,"  Ac.  Tafre  I!l(,  in  (Jen 
Porter's  letter,  1th  hne  from  holtom,  instead  of  "conmnssions  wiiich  wore  COKf 
fined  to  yuu,"  ruud  couimissious  wliich  were  euiiJiiUd  to  you,"  &c. 


> 


ilinpe  of  liistorica. 

did  not  appeal  U. 
clusivcly.  Tlicir 
itcd  as  loo  fc(!blo, 
iiad  resort  to  thv 
-thfc  British  offi- 
liootcrs,  was  sur- 

tho  authority  lot 
ptiy  stcp[)ctl  fop- 
ir  own  pro  lbs  sod 

Secretary  at  AVar 
niniand  their  cer- 
try,  its  rights  and 
iiilbstod  to  thoso 
ly  not  now  enviu- 
he  reflection  tliat 
grateful  unfeehng 
d  station.  Thorc 
cessary  or  Icasi- 
or  require  of  ine 
^nt,  1  shall  at  all 
mean  while,  Te- 

t;S  CIIAPIN. 


nstronfr's  'Xotices. 
itioii  onli^rcd  out," 
>ii{rp,  r)tli  lim;  in  re- 
'ditioii,"  Ac.  Vug*' 
(liscrction  n^ccsfla- 
Ac.  rago  ;!7,  4th 
ed  to  rcliiko,"  reaii 
l'ii<ro  :i!),  ill  (Jen 
IS  which  were  coi>^ 
,"&c. 


